Praia, Cape Verde – The West African island nation of Cape Verde has declared a state of emergency on the islands of São Vicente and Santo Antão following deadly floods that killed at least nine people and displaced 1,500.
The flash floods, triggered by Tropical Storm Erin on Monday, dumped 193mm of rain in just five hours—a figure far exceeding São Vicente’s annual average. The state of emergency allows the government to use crisis funds for urgent infrastructure repairs.
Deputy Prime Minister Olavo Correia described the floods as “catastrophic,” while the Interior Minister, Paulo Rocha, said the night was “marked by panic and despair.” The country’s meteorology institute noted that the extreme weather was an “uncommon situation,” and a representative stated that they lacked the radar equipment to accurately forecast the extent of the rainfall.
As rescue teams search for missing people, the Cape Verdean diaspora in countries including France, Luxembourg, and the US has launched crowdfunding campaigns. Tens of thousands of euros have already been raised to provide food, water, and emergency supplies to those affected.
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