At least 59 people have died in floods across Ivory Coast since the start of the year, as authorities warn that heavy rains continue to threaten communities during the country’s rainy season.

Government spokesperson Amadou Coulibaly announced the updated death toll following days of intense rainfall that triggered flash floods and landslides in parts of Ivory Coast and neighboring Ghana.

In Ivory Coast, the worst-hit areas include the commercial capital Abidjan, where more than a dozen people lost their lives, particularly in the municipalities of Attécoubé and Yopougon. The flooding also caused widespread damage to homes, roads and other critical infrastructure, disrupting daily life in affected communities.

Authorities have urged residents living in flood-prone neighborhoods to follow official safety guidance and evacuate areas identified as high risk to reduce the likelihood of further casualties.

The latest disaster underscores the growing impact of extreme weather events across Africa, where seasonal flooding continues to displace thousands of people, destroy infrastructure and claim lives each year.

Climate experts have repeatedly warned that Africa remains one of the regions most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, despite contributing only a small share of global greenhouse gas emissions. Rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns and increasingly severe weather events are expected to intensify flood risks across many parts of the continent.

As emergency response efforts continue, authorities are urging communities to remain alert as forecasts indicate further rainfall in the coming days.