State of emergency declared in São Vicente and Santo Antão

Cape Verde has declared a state of emergency on the islands of São Vicente and Santo Antão, after deadly floods which killed at least nine people and forced 1,500 from their homes.

The state of emergency activates crisis funds and urgent infrastructure repairs in the Atlantic Ocean islands off the west coast of Africa.

Monday’s flash floods were triggered by Tropical Storm Erin, leading to 193mm (7.6in) of rain in just five hours, far above São Vicente’s annual average.

Deputy Prime Minister Olavo Correia told the BBC the floods were “catastrophic”.

Rescue teams are desperately searching for missing people, while roads, homes and vehicles have been severely damaged.

Commenting on the heavy rains, Ester Brito from the country’s meteorology institute told Reuters news agency that the weather conditions were uncommon.

“It is a rare situation because what was recorded is above our 30-year climatologist average.”

Speaking to local media outlet Expresso das Ilhas, Ms Brito added that the country did not have the radar equipment required to forecast the extent of the rains.

Describing the moment the floods hit, Interior Minister Paulo Rocha said the night was “marked by panic and despair”, Reuters reports.

Alveno Yali, a community organiser in São Vicente, the worst affected Island, described the situation as “an incredible moment of heavy rains, strong winds, and flash floods, resulting in significant material losses”.

The Cape Verdean diaspora especially in France, Luxembourg, Portugal, and the US have launched urgent crowdfunding campaigns.

Tens of thousands of euros have already been raised to buy food, water, hygiene products, and emergency supplies.

Andreia Levy, president of Hello Cabo Verde in France, told the BBC that the entire diaspora was mobilised and they planned to deliver aid directly.