Praia/Nairobi/Geneva, 29 August 2025 – Heavy rains brought by Tropical Storm Erin on the night of 10–11 August unleashed devastating flash floods across Cape Verde, resulting in the deaths of at least 12 people, with 5 still missing.
More than 119, 000 people have been affected mainly due to damage to water systems, with over 5,500 households severely impacted, and the floods causing the displacement of 1,500 people in São Vicente.
Thousands of homes have been destroyed or severely damaged, leaving many to seek refuge with relatives, neighbours, or in temporary shelters. Livelihoods have also been decimated, plunging already vulnerable households into deeper crisis.
The scale of destruction has prompted the government to declare a state of emergency and two days of national mourning. Arlindo Carvalho, President of the Cape Verde Red Cross, says:
“The scenes following the floods in São Vicente are heartbreaking. In just a few hours, the torrential rains turned streets into raging torrents, devastating everything in their path. Many families have lost everything.”
The floods have also caused extensive damage to critical infrastructure. Five bridges have been destroyed, over 60 kilometres of roads damaged, and health facilities badly hit, including the complete loss of vaccines in São Vicente and partial losses elsewhere. Markets and supermarkets were also inundated with flood water, compounding the situation.
A major and growing concern is the collapse of the central water supply system, leaving thousands without access to safe drinking water. In a nation already struggling with prolonged drought and food insecurity, the disruption poses a severe threat of waterborne disease outbreaks.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is launching an emergency appeal for 3 million Swiss francs to support the Cape Verde Red Cross in responding to the urgent humanitarian needs of 40,000 affected people.
The funds will be used to deliver life-saving assistance, including shelter, essential household items, cash, food, clean water, and sanitation services. To support the immediate response, the IFRC has released CHF 565,565 from its disaster response emergency fund (DREF). Specialist teams have also been deployed to reinforce local response efforts.
Alexandre Claudon de Vernisy, IFRC Head of Delegation for Cape Verde, Gambia, Mauritania, and Senegal says:
“The scale of this disaster demands an urgent and robust response. It impacts every facet of life—shelter, food, water, sanitation, and livelihoods. The needs are vast, and immediate action is essential. With more rain forecasts in the coming weeks, swift intervention is critical to avert further suffering”.
For more information or to set up interview, please contact: [email protected]
In Praia: Veronica Ramos Oliveira Custódio, +238 954 33 00/913 42 46
In Dakar: Moustapha Diallo, +221 77 450 10 04
In Nairobi: Susan Mbalu, +254 733 827 654
In Geneva: Tommaso Della Longa +41 79 708 43 67
Hannah Copeland +41 76 236 9109
