Heavy overnight rains in Mogadishu have claimed the lives of at least seven people, including two women and a young boy, and left widespread destruction in parts of the Somali capital.
The downpour struck on Friday night, flooding homes and knocking down buildings in two of the city’s districts. By Saturday morning, residents and emergency workers were still digging through debris and navigating submerged streets.
Saleh Hassan, spokesperson for the mayor of Mogadishu, confirmed the casualties and said over 200 families had been displaced after floodwaters surged into their homes. Nine houses collapsed under the weight of the water, and six key roads were damaged, disrupting movement across the capital.
Among the victims was a boy whose body was discovered on Saturday morning by locals after hours of searching. “I was hoping the water would spit him out but all was in vain,” said Nuradin Mohammed, a resident who helped recover the child’s body. “This morning, my friends joined me with hammers and spades and we managed to remove his body.”
