Four children drown in Kolda floods, bringing total deaths to five since start of rainy season

The beginning of the rainy season in Kolda has been marked by tragedy, with four young boys drowning in a pit. These incidents, which bring the total number of weather-related deaths to five, highlight the need for vigilance during this dangerous season. The four young boys, all under 8 years old, were found drowned in a pit filled with runoff water in the village of Kandiama, located in the commune of Sinthiang Koundara in the Vélingara department. According to reports, the children died after falling into this excavation filled by the first rains of the season, plunging their families and the entire locality into deep sadness. This tragedy occurred just days after another weather-related death. On the night of June 8-9, a student in his twenties was fatally struck by lightning during a period of heavy rain. With these two tragedies, the death toll has now risen to five since the start of the rainy season in the Vélingara department. These events underscore the need for increased vigilance during the rainy season, particularly around pits, temporary ponds, and high-risk areas, to prevent further tragedies. Our thoughts are with the bereaved families during this difficult time.