The Logone River in Chad’s capital, N’Djamena, has surged to its highest level in decades, authorities reported on Wednesday.
This rise poses further challenges for a nation already grappling with devastating floods for weeks.
The annual monsoon season in West and Central Africa has brought heavier-than-usual rainfall this year, causing widespread flooding.
According to the United Nations humanitarian agency OCHA, Chad is the most affected country in the region, with 1.9 million people impacted as of October 5.
On Wednesday morning, the water level of the Logone River reached 8.18 meters, surpassing forecasts.
“This is a record not seen for at least 30 to 40 years,” stated Sakine Youssouf, head of the National Meteorology Agency.
In response to the rising water levels and the ongoing floods, Prime Minister Allah Maye Halina chaired a meeting with the national flood management committee.
The meeting aimed to develop an action plan to address the floods, which have impacted eight out of N’Djamena’s ten districts and 17 out of Chad’s 23 provinces.