Floods in Côte d’Ivoire have killed at least 59 people since May, with officials warning the death toll could rise as rescue teams continue searching for victims. The torrential rains have also devastated neighboring Ghana, where 13 people have died and over 400 were rescued. Climate breakdown is intensifying these extreme weather events, leaving coastal West Africa increasingly vulnerable.
Deadly Rains Across West Africa
The rainy season in West Africa typically runs from May to July, but this year’s downpours have been exceptionally severe. In Côte d’Ivoire, communication minister Amadou Coulibaly told a cabinet meeting that entire neighborhoods have been submerged, with social media footage showing residents wading through floodwaters. Ghana recorded approximately 140mm of rain in a single day—far exceeding the previous highest single-day rainfall of 56mm last year, according to President John Mahama.
Floods have also struck Benin, Togo, and Nigeria. In Nigeria, operations at a transmission substation in Lagos were halted, disrupting electricity supply to several neighborhoods. The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted “above normal” rainfall in Abuja and nine other states this year, including northern regions that experienced the worst floods in 60 years in 2025.
Why Are the Floods So Deadly?
Authorities point to a combination of climate change and human factors. According to the World Meteorological Organisation, Africa contributes minimally to global greenhouse gas emissions but is especially vulnerable to extreme weather. Yet poor waste management and rapid urban growth have worsened the crisis. President Mahama noted after an aerial tour that Accra was built between the Akwapim mountain range and the Atlantic Ocean—a manageable layout when the city was small. “As the population continues to increase and people continue to build, it restricts the path of the streams on the way to the Atlantic,” he explained.
Key Factors Behind the Floods
- Climate change intensifies rainfall frequency and severity
- Urbanization blocks natural drainage pathways
- Poor waste management clogs drains and waterways
- Illicit dumping in wetlands reduces natural flood absorption
In Accra and Tema, rains submerged buildings and roads, cutting off access. Fires started in some areas after electrical installations were flooded, adding to the chaos. Human behavior—such as dumping garbage in drains—has been identified as a major contributor, with Mahama revealing “many illicit dumping sites where wetlands are” discovered during aerial surveys.
Regional Impact and Future Risks
Beyond the immediate death toll, the floods have disrupted lives and infrastructure across the region. In Lagos, several islands connected to a large mainland area faced power outages after a substation was flooded. Meanwhile, southern and northern Africa experienced similar deadly floods between December 2025 and February 2026, highlighting a continent-wide pattern of extreme weather.
The World Meteorological Organisation warns that without significant global emission reductions, such events will become more frequent. For West Africa, the combination of climate vulnerability and rapid urbanization poses a growing threat to millions of people living in coastal cities.
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused the floods in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana?
The immediate cause is torrential rains during the West African rainy season, which runs from May to July. However, climate change has made these rains more intense, while poor waste management and unplanned urban development have blocked natural drainage systems, worsening the flooding.
How many people have died in total from the floods?
At least 59 people have died in Côte d’Ivoire since May, and 13 in Ghana. No confirmed casualties have been reported in Benin, Togo, or Nigeria, though rescue operations continue. Officials fear the toll could rise as search teams reach more affected areas.
What is being done to prevent future flood disasters?
Authorities are calling for better waste management, stricter urban planning to preserve natural waterways, and investment in flood-resistant infrastructure. On a global level, reducing greenhouse gas emissions is critical to mitigating the climate crisis that exacerbates extreme weather events across Africa.
