A dam in eastern Sudan collapsed, causing a powerful surge of water that resulted in the deaths of at least 30 people, with many more feared missing. The collapse, caused by heavy rains, destroyed over 20 villages and displaced thousands of residents. The dam, known as the Arbaat Dam, is located 40 kilometers (25 miles) north of Port Sudan, a city that has become the de facto capital of Sudan due to the ongoing civil war. Port Sudan is home to many government offices, diplomats, aid agencies, and hundreds of thousands of displaced people.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of devastation, with entire villages wiped out and extensive infrastructure damage. Omar Eissa Haroun, the head of the water authority for Red Sea state, stated, “The area is unrecognizable. The electricity and water pipes are destroyed.”
First responders reported between 150 and 200 people still missing, and the death toll is expected to rise. They also found the bodies of gold miners among the wreckage. The disaster has drawn comparisons to the catastrophic floods in Derna, Libya, where dam failures caused by a storm last year led to the deaths of thousands.
On Monday, the situation was still critical as residents were burying their dead and trying to protect graves from being washed away by ongoing mudslides. A group of people was seen covering a man’s grave with driftwood in a desperate attempt to shield it from the relentless rain and floods, as reported by a Reuters journalist.
According to the United Nations and local authorities, around 50,000 people’s homes have been affected by the flooding, but this estimate only covers the area west of the dam because the eastern side is still inaccessible due to the extensive damage. The Arbaat Dam, which collapsed, used to be a crucial source of water for Port Sudan, a city that is home to Sudan’s main Red Sea port and operational airport. Additionally, the dam played a vital role in facilitating the delivery of much-needed aid to the country.
In the aftermath of the disaster, concerns are mounting over the city’s water supply. The Sudanese Environmentalists Association issued a warning, saying, “The city is threatened with thirst in the coming days,” highlighting the urgency of addressing the water crisis looming over Port Sudan and its residents.
The collapse of the Arbaat Dam was not entirely unexpected, as officials have revealed that the dam had been showing signs of structural weakness, with silt building up during days of heavy rainfall. These rains, unusually early in the season, worsened the dam’s fragile state, eventually leading to its failure.
Sudan’s infrastructure has been deteriorating for years, a situation exacerbated by the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). This war, which started in April 2023, has caused both sides to divert much-needed resources away from infrastructure maintenance toward their military efforts. Consequently, dams, roads, and bridges across the country have been left in disrepair, making them vulnerable to disasters like the one in eastern Sudan.
