A state of emergency announced in SAO Vicente and Santo Antoo

Cape Verde has declared a state of emergency on the islands of Sao Vicente and Santo Antao, after deadly floods, which died at least nine people and forced 1500 of their homes.

The emergency is activated by crisis funds and emergency repairs to the Atlantic Ocean islands near the west coast of Africa.

The lightning floods on Monday were caused by the tropical storm Erin, leading to 193 mm (7.6 inches) rain in just five hours, far above the annual average of Sao Vicente.

Deputy Minister Olavo Korea told the BBC that the floods were “catastrophic”.

Rescue crews are desperately looking for missing people while roads, homes and vehicles are badly damaged.

Commenting on the heavy rains, Esther Brito from the country’s Meteorological Institute told Reuters news agency that weather conditions are rare.

“This is a rare situation because what has been recorded is over our 30-year-old climatologist.”

Speaking to the local media, Expresso Das Ilhas, Da Brito added that the country does not have the radar equipment needed to predict the level of rain.

Describing the moment the floods hit, Interior Minister Paulo Rosha said the night was “marked by panic and despair,” Reuters reports.

Alvena, the organizer of the Community in Sao Vicente, the most affected island, described the situation as “an incredible moment of heavy rains, strong winds and lightning floods, leading to significant material losses”.

Cabo Verdean’s diaspora, especially in France, Luxembourg, Portugal and the United States, have launched emergency campaigns to crowfanding.

Tens of thousands of euros have already been collected for the purchase of food, water, hygiene products and emergency supplies.

Andrea Levy, president of Hello Cabo Verde in France, told the BBC that the whole diaspora was mobilized and they plan to provide help directly.