Massive flash floods hit Angolan city of Lobito
Massive flash floods caused by torrential rains hit Angolan city of Lobito destroying dozens of homes and city structures and causing the death of at least 62 people, according to initial reports from local authorities.
The Angop state-run news agency reported that the flood water had reached three meters (9.8 feet) in some areas of the city since the rain started Wednesday, March 11, 2015.
The Bairro Novo neighborhood of Lobito (population 800 000), located on the Atlantic coast some 500 km (300 miles) south of the capital Luanda, was worst affected, the agency added.
The search for victims continues as many more people are believed to be still missing.
It´s raining in #Angola, #Africa! pic.twitter.com/zlbAG7ix5P
— Mario J de Carvalho (@mario_jcarvalho) March 11, 2015
This is country's second major flood event in in last 7 days. One person died and 100s of homes were damaged by floods that struck the capital Luanda on March 9, FloodList reports.
December to April is typically the rainiest time for the region. Violent storms come to Angola every spring, causing landslides and floods that hit the country's poor neighborhoods the hardest.
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