“Environmental Disaster”: Dam Collapse Claims the Lives of Dozens of Yemenis
Dozens of Yemenis lost their lives on Tuesday evening in a new humanitarian disaster, as a result of the collapse of dams and water barriers, sweeping away several homes with their residents, amid ongoing heavy rains in the northwest of the country.
Until early Wednesday morning, the provinces of Al-Mahwit, Al-Hodeidah, and Hajjah, under the control of Houthi militias in northwest Yemen, experienced heavy rains and thunderstorms, causing the collapse of three dams and water barriers in the mountainous district of Milhan, west of Al-Mahwit, adjacent to Al-Hodeidah province. The collapse of the dams and barriers led to a sudden and destructive flow of accumulated water towards populated villages and hamlets along the banks of the Hattab Valley, sweeping away several houses with their inhabitants, as well as shops and the citizens’ agricultural terraces.
Sources reported that the number of deaths and missing people due to the flowing floods and landslides had reached over 30, according to an initial count, while roads connecting the villages to other towns were cut off.
Meanwhile, Houthi-affiliated media reported early Wednesday, citing security sources in Al-Mahwit province, that 24 citizens were missing due to the flooding and landslides in Milhan district, leading to the collapse of seven houses and the loss of their residents, as well as four shops.
The valleys descending from the western areas of Al-Mahwit flow toward the coastal regions of Al-Hodeidah, which also experienced heavy rains for hours, worsening the plight of residents in the eastern districts of Al-Hodeidah. Floods from Al-Mahwit into the districts of Zaydiyah, Dhahha, and Bajil, east of Al-Hodeidah, caused widespread damage to inhabited villages and infrastructure, with reports of casualties and missing persons. Meanwhile, floods in Beit al-Faqih district, central Al-Hodeidah, isolated populated towns and cut off major roads.
Social media activists pointed out that the eastern villages of Zaydiyah district, which were severely affected, had not seen floods in nearly 70 years, causing significant damage.
Since the end of July, Yemen has been experiencing a wave of heavy rains, floods, and flash floods, leading to the death of more than 60 people, along with a number of missing persons, affecting 268,000 others according to UN reports.
