Overnight torrential rains in Yemen have led to severe flooding, resulting in the destruction of homes and at least 24 individuals reported missing, according to authorities on Wednesday. The floods, which occurred in Al-Mahwit, a province west of the capital Sanaa and under Houthi rebel control, caused landslides that devastated several homes, as stated by police in a release by rebel media. Police further detailed that at least 24 people are unaccounted for after seven homes were obliterated in the Melhan district of the province. Although no casualties have been officially reported, social media images suggest corpses covered in blankets post-flood, though AFP could not confirm their veracity independently. Western Yemen's mountainous regions are susceptible to heavy seasonal downpours. Since late July, flash floods have claimed 60 lives and impacted 268,000 people, as per the United Nations. Authorities have cautioned western and central provinces about potentially more severe conditions ahead.
The World Health Organisation cautioned on Monday that "in the coming months, increased rainfall is forecast, with the central highlands, Red Sea coastal areas, and parts of the southern uplands expected to receive unprecedented levels exceeding 300 millimetres (12 inches)." Earlier this month, the United Nations urgently called for $4.9 million to enhance the emergency response to extreme weather conditions in Yemen, a country deeply affected by ongoing conflict. Climate change is exacerbating the frequency and intensity of seasonal rains in Yemen's highlands, which are largely controlled by Houthi rebels. A decade-long war, supported by a Saudi-led coalition and against the internationally recognized government, has severely damaged medical infrastructure, leaving millions reliant on international aid.
