ABIDJAN (Reuters) - At least 18 people were killed by flooding in Ivory Coast's commercial capital Abidjan on Tuesday after intense rainfall overnight, authorities said.

A rushing flood of brown water struck the tropical, lagoon-side city of about 5 million people in the early hours, carrying away cars, destroying homes and leaving hundreds stranded.

The government said 18 people had died, in a provisional toll posted on its website. Another 115 people had been rescued and taken to shelters.

"I broke the ceiling and called my neighbour for help. He came to bring the children out of the roof," said Kadidiatou Diallo, standing in the ruined bedroom of her home in the Palmeraie district.

Ivory Coast, the world's top cocoa producer and Francophone West Africa's largest economy, is in the middle of its rainy season and meteorologists have forecast heavy rains until late June.

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. </s> People look at a car in a sewer after a flood in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, June 19, 2018. REUTERS/Luc Gnago

ABIDJAN (Reuters) - At least 18 people were killed by flooding in Ivory Coast’s commercial capital Abidjan on Tuesday after intense rainfall overnight, authorities said.

A rushing flood of brown water struck the tropical, lagoon-side city of about 5 million people in the early hours, carrying away cars, destroying homes and leaving hundreds stranded.

The government said 18 people had died, in a provisional toll posted on its website. Another 115 people had been rescued and taken to shelters.

“I broke the ceiling and called my neighbor for help. He came to bring the children out of the roof,” said Kadidiatou Diallo, standing in the ruined bedroom of her home in the Palmeraie district.

Ivory Coast, the world’s top cocoa producer and Francophone West Africa’s largest economy, is in the middle of its rainy season and meteorologists have forecast heavy rains until late June. </s> Fifteen people were killed in Abidjan, Ivory Coast's economic capital, in flooding caused by torrential rain overnight, Interior Minister Sidiki Diakite said on Tuesday.

Rain poured down from 11pm on Monday night to 6am Tuesday, causing flash floods up to 2.5 metres deep, he said.

Rescue teams saved 115 people and searches were underway for other casualties, he said.

A city of five million, Abidjan suffers from infrastructure problems and many homes are built in flood-prone areas. </s> At least 18 people have been killed by flash floods in Ivory Coast’s commercial capital Abidjan after intense rainfall overnight transformed roads into rivers. The West African city, which is in the middle of its wet season, is expected to face wild weather until the end of June. </s> At least 15 people have died and hundreds have been forced to leave their homes due to severe flooding in Abidjan, the economic capital of Ivory Coast, the country's interior minister said.

"Torrential rains triggered severe flooding across Abidjan yesterday night and killed 15 people, washed away houses and displaced hundreds of families," Sidiki Diakite told journalists on Tuesday.

About 115 people have been rescued and are in shelters.

"I broke the ceiling and called my neighbour for help. He came to bring the children out of the roof," said Kadidiatou Diallo, one of the survivors.

Emergency agencies continued the search for more casualties on Tuesday as the heavy rains persisted and the armed forces had been deployed to assist the effort, the minister said.

Many roads in Abidjan remained flooded on Tuesday, with sinkholes forming beneath some streets.

Several days of heavy rain and subsequent flooding left seven people dead in Abidjan in 2017.

Ivory Coast is in the middle of its rainy season and meteorologists have forecast heavy rains until late June. </s> related media assets (image or videos) available. Click to see the gallery.

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At least 18 people were killed by flooding in Ivory Coast's commercial capital Abidjan on Tuesday after intense rainfall overnight, authorities said.

ABIDJAN: At least 18 people were killed by flooding in Ivory Coast's commercial capital Abidjan on Tuesday after intense rainfall overnight, authorities said.

A rushing flood of brown water struck the tropical, lagoon-side city of about 5 million people in the early hours, carrying away cars, destroying homes and leaving hundreds stranded.

The government said 18 people had died, in a provisional toll posted on its website. Another 115 people had been rescued and taken to shelters.

"I broke the ceiling and called my neighbour for help. He came to bring the children out of the roof," said Kadidiatou Diallo, standing in the ruined bedroom of her home in the Palmeraie district.

Ivory Coast, the world's top cocoa producer and Francophone West Africa's largest economy, is in the middle of its rainy season and meteorologists have forecast heavy rains until late June. </s> Fifteen people died in Abidjan, Ivory Coast's economic capital, during flooding caused by torrential rain overnight, Interior Minister Sidiki Diakite said on Tuesday.

Rescue teams saved 115 people and searches were underway for other casualties, he said, adding that emergency medical centres had been set up across the seaside city.

A city of five million, Abidjan suffers from infrastructure problems and many homes are built in flood-prone areas.

The affected areas ranged from the posh Cocody neighbourhood, where many embassies and the presidential palace are located, to the teeming working-class Yopougon neighbourhood.

"Many residents are perched on the roofs of their homes," Fiacre Kili, the head of the civil protection agency said. "Searches are going on."

Several homes were flooded and boundary walls were toppled in the upscale Cocody and Riviera neighbourhoods. An AFP photographer saw many cars washed away from driveways.

"I have never seen anything like this in my life," said a resident, whose car was swept 600 metres from the house.

Ivory Coast's rainy season extends from April to October and rainfall is more abundant on the coast.

Every year, flash flooding claims several lives. Torrential rains on May 29, 1996 killed 28 people in Abidjan. </s> Flooding caused by overnight torrential rain killed 18 people in Ivory Coast's economic capital Abidjan, the interior ministry said on Tuesday.

The downpour which started at 11:00 pm on Monday continued until 6:00 am on Tuesday, causing flash floods up to 2.5 metres (more than eight feet) deep.

Rescue teams saved 136 people, two people were hospitalised, and searches were under way for other casualties, he said, adding that emergency medical centres had been set up across the seaside city.

A city of five million, Abidjan suffers from infrastructure problems and many homes are built in flood-prone areas.

The affected areas ranged from the posh Cocody neighbourhood, where many embassies and the presidential palace are located, to the teeming working-class Yopougon neighbourhood.

"Many residents are perched on the roofs of their homes," Fiacre Kili, the head of the civil protection agency said.

In Cocody and neighbouring Riviera, several homes were flooded and boundary walls toppled, with many cars washed away from driveways, an AFP correspondent said.

"I have never seen anything like this in my life," said a resident, whose car was swept 600 metres from the house.

"I was sleeping upstairs. My friend who was next to me woke me up saying 'Get up, there's water'. I looked out of the window and saw cars and furniture being swept away on the streets," said Ismael Oulata, a fitness coach.

"Then the water started coming up the stairs."

Machines in the gym downstairs were out of commission and an adjoining hairdressing salon was smeared with mud.

"We lost everything," said a pizzeria owner called Sabine, who declined to give her surname.

"When we came this morning we found all the freezers toppled and all the products were spoilt. Our five delivery scooters were damaged."

Ivory Coast's rainy season extends from April to October and rainfall is more abundant on the coast.

Torrential rains on May 29, 1996 killed 28 people in Abidjan. </s> The government said 18 people had died, in a provisional toll posted on its website. Another 115 people had been rescued and taken to shelters. 



 A rushing flood of brown water struck the tropical, in the early hours, carrying away cars, destroying homes and leaving hundreds stranded. 



 Ivory Coast, the world's top cocoa producer and Francophone West Africa's largest economy, is in the middle of its rainy season and meteorologists have forecast heavy rains until late June.
Floods in Abidjan, Ivory Coast killed 20 people and destroyed several houses and roads.