Savage flooding, triggered by torrential rains on Monday left 14 people dead in Angola’s capital Luanda. A further 8000 lost their homes.

Africa News reports that the downpour lasted for about seven hours, the intensity of which resulted in bridges having collapsed, trees were uprooted, and vehicles were submerged in the torrent. There was a substantial increase in the water level in drainage ditches and stormwater containment basins, which then overflowed onto the public highway.

Public transport was unable to operate in several areas of the city, leaving commuters stranded.

According to a spokesman for the National Civil Security Agency, Faustino Minguês, the victims were killed by collapsing walls or had been electrocuted.

The extent of the damage to Luanda is still being calculated.

Umm Muhammed Umar