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SUMMARY OF CRISIS AND KEY FINDINGS
Hurricane Erin, born as a tropical wave off West Africa on 9 August, became the first Atlantic hurricane of the year a week later as it tracked west, undergoing very rapid intensification into a Category 5 – “one of the fastest on record.”3 On 10–11 August 2025, Hurricane Erin brought torrential rains that triggered flash floods and landslides across Cabo Verde, with São Vicente and Santo Antão the worst affected and partial impacts in São Nicolau.
In just a few hours, rainfall exceeded annual averages, overwhelming drainage systems and destroying infrastructure. At least nine people lost their lives, two remain missing,5 and more than 27 500 people were directly affected (nearly 23% of the population), including 1500 displaced in São Vicente.6 At least 20 000 people have been injured.
Over 2500 buildings were damaged, five bridges collapsed, and more than 60 km of roads were cut off, isolating entire communities. Mindelo’s central hospital and several health centres were inundated. The Bela Vista Health Centre, which directly serves a population of 5099 was completely destroyed, resulting in the total loss of vaccine stocks.Water and sanitation networks collapsed, forcing reliance on emergency water trucking from Santo Antão.
The scale of destruction has prompted the government to declare a state of emergency and two days of national mourning. Thousands of homes have been destroyed or severely damaged, leaving many to seek refuge with relatives, neighbours, or in temporary shelters. Livelihoods have also been decimated, plunging already vulnerable households into deeper crisis.
An emergency assessment highlights major health risks: diseases linked to contaminated water, vector borne diseases due to stagnant water, and mental health issues related to the losses suffered. A major and growing concern is the collapse of the central water supply system, leaving thousands without access to safe drinking water. In a nation already struggling with prolonged drought and food insecurity, the disruption poses a severe threat of waterborne disease outbreaks.
More broadly, since 2017, Cape Verde is facing one of the worst droughts’ crises ever since the 1990s. Rains are scarce, and agricultural production is recording a decline never seen before. 15 Agricultural production no longer covers 1% of the country’s food needs, while a significant portion of the Cape Verdean population lives from agriculture. This situation has resulted in 24.2% of the population living in poverty and 9.2% in extreme poverty