MOGADISHU, Somalia – Heavy overnight rainfall in Mogadishu has caused widespread destruction, leaving several families in mourning and neighborhoods submerged in water.
Among the victims were a young girl and her grandmother who tragically lost their lives when a neighboring building collapsed onto their home in Xamar Jajab district. “It was shocking. The rain came down hard, and the house—already weak—couldn’t hold up. A taller structure next door gave way and crushed their home,” a resident told Horn Life.
Elsewhere in the city, rescuers retrieved the body of a young boy from a water-filled pit near Soobe. Locals rushed to the scene, trying to offer help where they could.
This morning, parts of Mogadishu remain difficult to access. Videos shared online show cars stuck in deep water, while roads in several districts have crumbled under the pressure. Public movement has slowed to a crawl as people navigate submerged streets.
The Banadir regional government has yet to issue an official statement, but citizens are urging authorities to act quickly. With many roads impassable, draining the floodwaters has become a pressing need.
Mogadishu faces similar challenges every time the rains come—fragile infrastructure, poor drainage, and low-quality buildings mean that even short storms can have deadly consequences.
HORN LIFE
