Heavy Rains Cause Flooding and Casualties in Senegal

**Heavy Rains Cause Flooding and Casualties in Senegal** Heavy rains on Sunday, October 4, caused multiple deaths in Senegal and paralyzed parts of Dakar and its suburbs. Up to 142 millimeters of rain were recorded in 24 hours, and the human toll remains provisional. On Monday morning, the highway connecting the suburbs to the center of Dakar was blocked near the Mariama Niasse school, according to the Sénégalaise Agency of Press (APS). Drivers redirected to other routes, notably the Northern Bypass Road, where traffic quickly became congested. Some workers were unable to reach their workplace. Between Pikine, Diamaguène and Mbao, residents crossed flooded streets by cart, according to the APS. In Mbao, residents fear that the marsh may overflow towards the houses. Several neighborhoods in Guédiawaye were also affected, and basins overflowed in Keur Massar, causing damage. In the Parcelles Assainies area, at Unit 7, a 25-year-old woman and her four-year-old son died in their home, flooded by water. The Interior Ministry also mentioned the collapse of a wall. In Gourel Serigne, in the city of Matam, the collapse of a shed during the rain caused one death and two injured, confirmed by the family of a victim to the APS. In Kaolack, the circumstances of the collapse of a building were still under evaluation on Monday. In its first statement, the Interior Ministry reported deaths and injuries, without providing a national numerical toll. On Monday morning, the Senegalese press reported other deaths in several neighborhoods of Dakar, notably in Grand-Yoff after the collapse of a wall, without official confirmation at this stage. According to the measurements of the National Civil Aviation and Meteorology Agency (ANACIM), Rufisque and Ranérou received 142 millimeters of rain in 24 hours. The Dakar-Yoff station recorded 138 millimeters, and the Blaise-Diagne International Airport station recorded 76. In Dakar, Senegal, at least four people died as a result of flooding and heavy rain that hit the capital on Sunday, October 4: more than 140 mm of rain fell in 24 hours in some neighborhoods, enough to cause flooding, wall collapses, and partially block the capital until Monday evening. The city of Dakar expressed its "deep sorrow" following the deaths recorded in Grand Yoff, Hann Bel Air, and Parcelles Assainies. The Senegalese government activated the Regional Emergency Plan on Monday, October 5, 2026, following the heavy rains that hit the country the previous day. With accumulations reaching 142 millimeters in 24 hours, the floods have caused multiple human losses, paralyzed transport in Dakar, and caused significant material damage in the suburbs. "I was unable to get to the office this morning," testified Souleymane Diop, an accountant living in Keur Massar. Like thousands of residents of the Dakar suburbs, his daily commute has come to a standstill. The highway leading to the city center was completely closed to traffic at the Patte d'Oie, turning the road axis into an impassable river. The massive rerouting of road traffic to the North Exit Road (VDN) caused huge traffic jams, blocking workers for long hours. Stuck in the traffic jams, the economic impact is immediate for road professionals. "I was stuck for five hours on the VDN with customers on board, everyone was at their wit's end and the engines were overheating," explained Modou Khoulé, a taxi driver for clandestine services ("clando"). On the ground, the paralysis is general and affects many sectors of activity.