17 people killed, five missing in flooding in western Yemen

At least 17 people have died following a week of heavy rainfall and flooding in Yemen’s western coastal areas, as local authorities warned of a renewed wave of thunderstorms expected to impact most provinces on Saturday and Sunday.

The deaths were recorded in the Al-Mokha and Mawza districts, in the west of Taiz province, with local sources telling The New Arab that five people remain missing.

Rescue teams have recovered the bodies of two children who were reported missing during the floods in Al Hudaydah province.

The flooding has caused widespread damage to homes and infrastructure, with around 50 houses either completely or partially destroyed.

Residents also reported that major roads have been cut off and large swathes of farmland swept away due to rising water levels.

At least 1,370 families at a displacement camp in Al Jawf province have been affected by the storm system, which intensified over the past two days in the Khabb and Al-Sha’af districts, camp authorities said on Saturday.

Officials said that hundreds of people have been left without shelter or access to basic necessities, exposing them to severe hardship.

They urged the international community and the UN to provide emergency shelter, food, and drinking water to displaced residents, echoing a similar appeal from authorities managing Al Arq Al Sharqi camp in neighbouring Marib, who called for assistance on Friday for hundreds affected by the thunderstorms.

Yemen is prone to flash flooding during its rainy seasons, particularly in spring and summer, as its mountainous terrain and low-lying coastal plains leave many areas vulnerable to sudden and often deadly floods.

Last August, flooding across Yemen killed more than 30 people and damaged over 200 homes.

Humanitarian workers have warned that the impact of natural disasters has worsened in recent years, compounding already fragile conditions caused by years of conflict, with millions of displaced people living in camps and remaining especially vulnerable to extreme weather.

Additional rainfall expected

Yemen’s National Centre of Meteorology issued further warnings on Saturday for the next 24 hours, forecasting rainfall across several provinces, including Al Mahrah, Hadramout, Shabwah, Abyan, Al Bayda, Lahj, Al Dhale’e, Taiz, Ibb, Dhamar, and Raymah, as well as the southern and eastern coasts.

Parts of the capital, Sanaa, along with Saada, Amran, and Hajjah, are also expected to experience scattered rainfall.

Authorities warned residents to avoid waterways and valleys during and after rainfall.

Drivers were cautioned about reduced visibility due to rain and fog, as well as the dangers of muddy roads and landslides, particularly in mountainous areas.

Fishermen were also advised to exercise caution due to rough sea conditions caused by strong winds along coastal areas, especially along the Red Sea coast, Bab al-Mandab, and the western Gulf of Aden.