Floods kill 17 in Sudan, destroy thousands of homes in the capital

KHARTOUM, Sudan – The governor of Sudan's capital says heavy rain and floods have killed 17 people and left thousands of houses demolished.

Abdul-Rahman Khidir said on Tuesday that central Sudan was most affected by the flood, especially the capital, Khartoum.

Heavy rain since Friday left many areas in the capital inaccessible, and many neighborhoods have sunk into darkness because of power outages. Transportation has ground to a halt, stranding thousands of families whose houses have been swept away.

Last year, at least 36 people were killed and thousands left homeless because of flooding. Some 5,000 houses — especially mud brick homes — were destroyed, half of them beyond repair.