Cabo Verde has declared a state of emergency following devastating flash floods that struck the islands of São Vicente and Santo Antão on Monday, unleashing destruction and heartbreak across the northwestern region of the archipelago. Triggered by intense rainfall on Sunday and Monday, the floods caused severe damage to roads, homes, and infrastructure, with São Vicente bearing the brunt. According to the National Institute of Meteorology and Geophysics (INMG), an astonishing 192.3 millimetres of rain fell on São Vicente between midnight and 5 a.m.—nearly twice the island’s average annual rainfall—leaving communities reeling from the impact.
The government swiftly mobilized emergency resources to support affected residents and begin recovery efforts. “It was a difficult night, marked by panic and despair,” said Interior Minister Paulo Rocha in a public radio interview. “There were people who lost everything.” As of Monday, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) reported at least nine fatalities, five missing persons, 20,000 injured, 1,500 displaced, and a total of 3,000 impacted on São Vicente. These figures exceed earlier government estimates, which recorded eight deaths and four missing. In response, Cabo Verde declared two days of national mourning beginning Tuesday, honoring those lost and affected.
The tragedy has sparked questions about the country’s preparedness and early warning systems. While rain and thunderstorms were forecast, INMG President Ester Brito explained to Expresso das Ilhas that Cabo Verde lacks the radar technology needed to predict the intensity of such events. “We can’t do that yet,” she said, referring to the inability to measure precipitable water levels that could signal extreme rainfall. The absence of precise forecasting tools has underscored the urgent need for investment in meteorological infrastructure to better protect vulnerable communities.
Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva visited the devastated town of Salamansa and announced on Facebook that the government is forging strong partnerships with international organizations to accelerate aid and reconstruction. Citizens across the country have also rallied in solidarity. Youth groups are organizing relief efforts, and the island of Boa Vista has canceled an upcoming festival, redirecting a fifth of its budget to humanitarian aid for São Vicente. Amid the grief and destruction, Cabo Verdeans are demonstrating resilience and unity, determined to rebuild and support one another through this national crisis.