Sudan flood death toll rises to 77

The authorities in Sudan have said that the number of dead due to flash floods in several parts of the country has risen to 77.

A spokesman for the emergency services, Brigadier Abd al-Jaleel Abd-al-Haleem, told BBC Arabic that thousands of homes have been completely destroyed, with the River Nile and al-Jazirah states worst affected.

Thousands of square kilometres of arable land are under water.

The local administrations are providing tents and food, but have appealed to the Khartoum government and international organisations for aid to prevent water-borne diseases.