Huge floods swept through several areas of northern Sudan on Tuesday, completely or partially destroying more than 10,000 homes.

The severity of the rains and flooding was high in areas north of the city of Dengla, as well as the city of Abu Hamad in Nile State, which is considered the main centre of gold mining activity in the country, raising major environmental concerns as flood waters mix with the waste from the mining sites that are widespread there and are washed into the Nile River, the main source of drinking water and irrigation for agricultural projects.

While no official figures have been released on the extent of the damage, activists in the area say at least 10 people have been killed and around 50 injured by falling buildings or drowning in the torrent.

According to preliminary estimates, more than 10,000 families in Abu Hamad town, villages and surrounding areas have lost their homes amid extremely dangerous humanitarian and health conditions, with severe shortages of hospitals, medicines and drinking water.