Several killed as heavy rains devastate Mogadishu

At least three people have been killed after heavy rains caused severe flooding in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, local media reported on Saturday.

The casualties include a young girl and her grandmother, who died when their house collapsed in the Hamar Jajab neighbourhood. The body of a boy was also recovered from a roadside trench, bringing the confirmed death toll to three. However, local reports suggest the number of casualties could be higher.

The flooding caused significant damage across the capital, with major roads submerged and rendered impassable. Several neighbourhoods experienced widespread destruction, including collapsed buildings and blocked streets.

Footage circulating on social media showed broken roads, large pools of stagnant water, and deteriorated structures, many of which housed low-income families.

Transport in the city was severely disrupted, as the rains affected both vehicular and pedestrian movement.

Mogadishu remains vulnerable to flooding due to a lack of proper drainage systems and urban planning. The capital continues to face the effects of prolonged conflict and underdevelopment since the collapse of Somalia’s central government in 1991.

Authorities have yet to release an official statement on the overall impact of the flooding or the response measures underway.