Sudan’s Early Warning Unit at the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation has issued a “red alert” over the risk of flooding along the Nile River due to increased inflows from both the Blue Nile and White Nile.
In a statement posted on its official Facebook page, the ministry said the areas most affected by the floods include Khartoum, River Nile, White Nile, Sennar, and Blue Nile states.
The unit urged citizens to avoid low-lying areas, valleys, and water channels that may experience flash floods. It also stressed the importance of taking precautions, especially in agricultural zones and along the riverbanks.
The warning will remain in effect from Sunday morning until Tuesday evening, according to the official statement.
On Monday morning, activists reported that flooding from the Nile had already begun in the Kalakla al-Qalaa area of Khartoum, after water discharges from dams and the Blue Nile exceeded safe limits, causing water to enter residential neighborhoods and threatening thousands of families.
The General Directorate of Nile Water Affairs noted that the Blue Nile’s inflow exceeded 730 million cubic meters per day for the fourth consecutive day. The Rosieres Dam was discharging 670 million cubic meters per day, while Sennar exceeded 600 million cubic meters, and Merowe Dam released more than 700 million cubic meters daily.
On Saturday, the Early Warning Unit of the Nile Water Affairs Department had already issued a maximum red-level alert for White Nile, Khartoum, and River Nile states, warning of floods along the Nile due to surging inflows.
The department cautioned that floodwaters could submerge fields and valleys, urging citizens to move crops, fodder, and livestock to higher ground and flood-resistant areas. It also warned that rising waters might come into contact with power lines, posing an electrocution hazard.
Meanwhile, Sudan’s Civil Defense announced on Sunday that the Nile’s water levels were rising significantly, confirming that the flood situation is unsafe.
Sudan experiences seasonal floods every August and September, which claim dozens of lives and cause massive damage to homes and farmlands. The crisis has been aggravated by the country’s fragile infrastructure, already severely weakened by the ongoing conflict, leaving Sudan less equipped to cope with natural disasters.
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