Senegal Delays School Year Due to Severe Flooding and Heavy Rain

Senegal has postponed the start of the school year across the country due to heavy rains and flooding that have recently caused several fatalities. The decision was announced on Tuesday, following days of torrential rain that began last Friday and continued through Monday.

The flooding has severely affected many areas, especially in the capital city, Dakar, where some neighborhoods were submerged, and major roads were cut off. Reports indicate that a mother and child were found drowned in their home during the storms.

President Bassirou Diomaye Faye mentioned that the storms resulted in “loss of life,” though he did not provide specific numbers. The rainy season in Senegal typically runs from June to October.

The education ministry explained that the postponement aims to ensure the safety of children and to allow time for cleaning and restoring schools. Instead of starting on Wednesday as planned, primary and secondary schools will now open next Monday, marking an unusual delay for the academic calendar.

Looking ahead, global weather experts warn that an El Nino event, which can cause extreme weather changes, is expected to impact Africa and other regions in the coming months. This phenomenon occurs every two to seven years and is linked to the warming of ocean surfaces, affecting rainfall and wind patterns worldwide.