Heavy rains are reportedly flooding towns in the centre and north of the country causing damage to homes and crops.

“After a slow start to the [rainy] season in Senegal, rainfall has become torrential, especially in a narrow band across the northern portion of the country,” according to the Weather Hazards Impacts Assessment issues for 9 to 15 August from Famine Early Warning System Network (FEWS NET).

“Localized flooding is possible during the next week as rivers are likely swollen and soils saturated.”

The town of Thies reportedly received 127 millimetres of rain on the night of 13 August. Several neighbourhoods in low areas were affected, according to local correspondent for the Senegalese newspaper Wal Fadjri.

The local government announced that some 123 families have lost their homes. The government has reportedly started providing emergency assistance.

Some of the displaced have been relocated to schools but most do not yet have shelter.

Water was reportedly as high as 1.1 metres in some areas and several people received electric shocks though none were killed.

Farther north, rains were reported heavy in the town of Louga as well as in southern Senegal in Ziguinchor and in the capital, Dakar.

Since early August heavy rains have caused scattered flooding from Ethiopia to Senegal.