Flash floods in Botswana kill seven people and uproot hundreds more

President Duma Boko said on Saturday that following days of intense rainfall, flash floods have displaced thousands of people and killed seven people, including three children, throughout Botswana.

Authorities have blocked roads and temporarily closed schools after more than a week of rain.

In an address that was broadcast on television, Boko said, “We will continue to work in the short term to mitigate further losses,” as more than 1,700 people were evacuated from regions affected by flooding.

Cars were washed away and houses were flooded in the capital Gabarone, where the local dam was overflowing, as rescuers prepared for further rain in the days ahead.

According to disaster management experts, some of the worst-hit low-lying regions may have seen water accumulation as a result of poor drainage in metropolitan areas.

“We must relook at our infrastructure planning to determine that indeed our infrastructure on a national level can handle droughts as well as floods,” added Boko.