At least seven dead as heavy rains flood Somalia's capital, Mogadishu

At least seven people were killed and major roads submerged after relentless overnight rains triggered severe flooding in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, officials said Saturday.

The downpour overwhelmed the city’s drainage system, collapsing homes and stranding residents in waist-high water for hours.

Abdinasir Hirsi Idle, spokesperson for the regional administration, told the Associated Press that rescue efforts were ongoing and warned the death toll could rise. “The rains were heavy and lasted for several hours, causing nine houses to collapse across different neighborhoods, and at least six major roads to suffer severe damage,” he said.

The floodwaters also disrupted transportation, damaged infrastructure, and briefly halted operations at Mogadishu’s Aden Abdulle International Airport, though flights later resumed. Authorities said more than 115mm of rain fell in just over eight hours, with the Ministry of Energy and Water warning of possible flash floods in other regions.

The Somali Disaster Management Agency is still assessing the full extent of the damage. Somalia frequently experiences extreme climate shocks, alternating between droughts and devastating floods.

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