Cape Verde has declared a state of emergency on the islands of São Vicente and Santo Antão following deadly floods that killed at least nine people and displaced around 1,500 residents. The emergency declaration enables the release of crisis funds and fast tracks infrastructure repairs across the Atlantic archipelago off Africa’s west coast.
The floods, described as “catastrophic” by Deputy Prime Minister Olavo Correia, were caused by Tropical Storm Erin, which dumped 193mm (7.6 inches) of rain in just five hours far exceeding São Vicente’s annual average. Rescue teams are still searching for missing individuals, while extensive damage has been reported to homes, roads, and vehicles. Meteorologist Ester Brito told Reuters the rainfall was highly unusual, surpassing the country’s 30 year climatological average, and noted that Cape Verde lacks radar equipment to forecast such extreme events.
Interior Minister Paulo Rocha described the night of the storm as one filled with “panic and despair,” while community organiser Alveno Yali in São Vicente, the hardest hit island, called it “an incredible moment of heavy rains, strong winds, and flash floods,” resulting in major material losses. In response, Cape Verdean communities abroad in France, Luxembourg, Portugal, and the United States have launched urgent crowdfunding campaigns, raising tens of thousands of euros to provide food, water, hygiene products, and emergency supplies. Andreia Levy, president of Hello Cabo Verde in France, said the diaspora is fully mobilised and committed to delivering aid directly to those affected.
