The death toll from devastating floods in Côte d’Ivoire has risen sharply to 59, more than four times the figure announced earlier on Wednesday, as rescue teams continue searching for missing persons.
Government spokesperson Amadou Coulibaly announced the updated casualty figure after a cabinet meeting, describing this year’s flooding as “particularly high.”
He said search and rescue operations were ongoing, warning that the number of fatalities could increase as emergency responders reach more affected areas.
Coulibaly also urged residents to comply with government safety directives and evacuate communities identified as high-risk flood zones.
Earlier in the day, authorities had reported 12 deaths before the toll rose significantly following updated assessments.
Minister of Social Cohesion, Belmonde Dogo, said persistent rainfall that began on the night of June 27 triggered severe flooding and landslides across the commercial capital, Abidjan, and surrounding communities.
The floods caused extensive destruction, with roads submerged, vehicles swept away, and several neighbourhoods inundated, according to images and videos shared on social media.
The disaster comes as several West African countries, including Nigeria and Ghana, battle severe flooding caused by heavy seasonal rainfall.
According to the World Meteorological Organization, Africa remains one of the regions most vulnerable to extreme weather events despite contributing only a small share of global greenhouse gas emissions.
