MOGADISHU, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- At least 10 people died Monday in central Somalia when a boat they were travelling in capsized, officials confirmed on Tuesday.
Beledweyne mayor Safia Sheikh Hassan Ali told reporters the boat carrying 16 people overturned as floods wreaked havoc in the town.
"I was among the passengers on board the boat but I survived. Ten others have died," Ali said. She noted that the dead included her secretary.
Residents reported the incident to Xinhua, saying some 90 percent of the residents in the town fled from their houses due the torrential floods caused by an outpour from Shabelle River following heavy rains.
Residents said farmland, infrastructure and roads have been destroyed, and livelihoods disrupted in some of the worst-hit areas.
The UN humanitarian agency OCHA said Monday up to 85 percent of Beledweyne town had been submerged in water adding so far 164,000 people had been displaced.
Villages have been turned into rivers and children could be seen on rooftops.
According to the UN, the Shabelle River levels in BeletWeyne town and surrounding areas reached bankfull on Oct. 26, leading to spillage which has submerged the town.
The latest event came hours after Somali president Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo called on humanitarian agencies to help the victims of the floods in Beladweyne town.
Farmajo also appealed to Somalis to unite in providing urgent help to their fellow citizens affected by the severe flooding in Hiiraan, Bakol and Gedo regions.
