Two people are reported to have drowned on Saturday in the ongoing river floods in Middle Shabelle region.
One of them was a nine-year old girl identified as Farhiya Nor Muhamed, who was taking cattle to graze on the edge of river for her pastoralist family in Congo village, about 5 km south of Jowhar. Her grandfather Ahmed Nor said she was swept away by the water.
The other person was 15 year-old Darbane Saleban, who was trying to reach the north of Jowhar from the south. The chairman of Baaroow village, Hussein Mowlid Saleban, said Darbane was trying to swim across the river as there were no boats available at that time. He was drowned in the raging flood waters..
Last month, seven people died in the same area when their makeshift boat capsized. Four women and an elderly man also in the boat were rescued by residents.
Radio Ergo’s reporter put the death toll at 10 since the Shabelle River floods started in August.
MR
