Unseasonal heavy rains have claimed the lives of two children and caused widespread damage in Angola’s northern Uige province, leaving authorities and residents reeling from a rare and destructive weather event during the region’s typical dry season. The downpour, which persisted for three consecutive days, was accompanied by strong winds and hail, according to a report published on June 11 by the Angola Press Agency (ANGOP).
Deputy Provincial Commander of Civil Protection and Firefighters, Antonio Simao, confirmed that the fatalities occurred in the towns of Damba and Uige, where communities were caught unprepared by the sudden and violent storm. The unusual nature of the weather has raised concerns about changing climatic patterns and the region’s readiness to handle such anomalies. The storm not only resulted in tragic loss of life but also severely disrupted daily life and local services.
More than 2,000 families were left without electricity since Tuesday, while critical infrastructure—including the Uige General Hospital, schools, and several vehicles—suffered extensive damage. Authorities are now scrambling to assess the full scope of the destruction and coordinate emergency responses, with local residents calling for urgent repairs and better disaster preparedness to mitigate future climate shocks.