Burkina flood death toll rises
2009-09-04 21:44
Ouagadougou - The death toll from floods in Burkina Faso has risen to eight and the deluge has destroyed more than 24 000 homes in the capital, Prime Minister Tertius Zonga said on Friday.
The heaviest rainfall for decades, which hit Tuesday and mainly affected Ouagadougou, has left more than 150 000 homeless.
"We have recorded five deaths caused by the floodwaters and two caused by houses collapsing in Ouagadougou," he said.
A further death had been registered in the village of Kiembara, 225km west of the capital in the province of Sourou, Zongo added.
About 130 000 of those left homeless by the flooding - the vast majority in the capital - had now been re-housed mainly in schools and colleges, the premier said.
The flood was triggered by about 30cm of rain falling in the space of 10 hours, according to authorities.
Such a downpour had not been seen since 1919 in the west African country, a meteorologist said on state television.
