Hadramout (South24 Center)

A soldier from the Northern Emergency Forces was killed, and 40 others from the Al-Wadea sector forces were injured on Wednesday (March 25) due to a severe sandstorm and flash floods caused by heavy rains that struck various parts of Hadramout governorate in eastern South Yemen, according to local sources.

The commander of the Al-Wadea Protection Battalion confirmed in a press statement that the winds, rain, and storms that hit the desert region at dawn on Wednesday resulted in the death of one soldier and the injury of 40 other members of the battalion. He also noted significant material losses, including damage to military equipment and vehicles.

Sources reported that the storm caused extensive damage to military sites in the Al-Abr border area, including the destruction of tents, hangars, and caravans used as housing for the Nation Shield Forces. Several vehicles stationed in the area were also damaged.

In parallel, the Sah district in Wadi Hadramout witnessed a massive flow of flash floods at dawn on Wednesday, which swept away cargo trucks loaded with goods. Meanwhile, coastal and valley areas recorded rainfall of varying intensity, with no human casualties reported there at the time of writing.

Citizens and activists in Hadramout have held the relevant authorities responsible for "negligence" in issuing sufficient proactive warning bulletins. They pointed out that the absence of alerts regarding the sudden sandstorm contributed to the escalation of human and material losses in desert and open areas.

The Early Warning Center in Hadramout had issued an alert early Wednesday regarding renewed rain clouds over parts of the coast, warning of rainfall ranging from light to heavy.

In this context, the General Authority for Meteorology warned citizens against staying in flood streams and valleys or using slippery mud roads. It also called on fishermen and sea-goers on the southern and western coasts to exercise extreme caution due to sea disturbances.

There are growing fears that the effects of the low-pressure system will continue to impact the eastern and southern governorates, potentially leading to further damage to weak infrastructure and private property, given the lack of necessary equipment for disaster response.