Flooding in Eritrea is primarily caused by the Gash River and other rivers originating from the Ethiopian Highlands, such as the Atbara and Tekeze (also known as the Setit) rivers. Between 2003 and 2006, several flood events have occurred, resulting in fatalities, displacement, and damage to infrastructure and agriculture. Eritrea's climate is semi-arid, characterized by a main rainy season from June to September and a shorter rainy season from March to May. Heavy rainfall during these periods can cause river overflow, leading to flooding, particularly in low-lying areas.
List of floods
In August 2003, the Gash River overflowed its banks in the western Gash Barka region of Eritrea, causing the worst floods in 40 years. The resulting floods caused damage to crops, vegetation, and agricultural facilities in Teseney. According to official reports, large areas of farmland were destroyed, and part of the road to Teseney was cut off. The floods were a result of unusually heavy seasonal rains.
References
- "World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal". climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org. Retrieved 2025-01-12.
- "Regional overview of flooding in the Horn of Africa | OCHA". www.unocha.org. 2006-08-31. Retrieved 2025-01-12.
- Hensley, Nicole (2014-03-14). "African country Eritrea's capital flooded with ice, rain". New York Daily News. Retrieved 2025-01-12.
- "Think Hazard - Eritrea - River flood". thinkhazard.org. Retrieved 2025-01-12.
- "Eritrea-Sudan: Worst floods in decades cause death and destruction - Eritrea | ReliefWeb". reliefweb.int. 2003-08-12. Retrieved 2025-01-12.
- "2003184.html". floodobservatory.colorado.edu. Retrieved 2025-01-12.