When security officer Nicaise Bouadou, 43, heard the first drops of rain on his tin roof on the evening of 23 June in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire's commercial hub, he thought it was the typical start of the rainy season.
The cries of his neighbour's children woke him up. Frightened by the violent torrents that had rushed down the hill and set off a mudslide, adults frantically reached out, trying to grab something to steady themselves, while children hurled themselves into their parents' arms.
By morning, his shack made of boards propped up on bricks had collapsed. In the refuge of a neighbour's house, Bouadou told IRIN about the terrible night when he "could not save a child's life".
"My neighbour was able to hold on for two hours. I was able to create a fortress with my mattress and covers, but the water level was rising and I could not join my neighbours.
"Suddenly, my friend cracked and called out for help - he has three children who are eight, five and three years old. I saw he had the youngest and his wife had the other, but there was a third one who was unprotected from the rains.
"I left my home to help, which is when a wave took the second child. I reached out my hand to the child's and was able to grasp it, but the water was just too strong. I could not hold on.
"The father immediately gave the child he was holding to his wife to save the other. We all waded into water that came to our chests; unfortunately, it was dark and we could not advance beyond 50 metres.
"It was terrible to hold his lifeless body last night."
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The cries of his neighbour's children woke him up. Frightened by the violent torrents that had rushed down the hill and set off a mudslide, adults frantically reached out, trying to grab something to steady themselves, while children hurled themselves into their parents' arms.
By morning, his shack made of boards propped up on bricks had collapsed. In the refuge of a neighbour's house, Bouadou told IRIN about the terrible night when he "could not save a child's life".
"My neighbour was able to hold on for two hours. I was able to create a fortress with my mattress and covers, but the water level was rising and I could not join my neighbours.
"Suddenly, my friend cracked and called out for help - he has three children who are eight, five and three years old. I saw he had the youngest and his wife had the other, but there was a third one who was unprotected from the rains.
"I left my home to help, which is when a wave took the second child. I reached out my hand to the child's and was able to grasp it, but the water was just too strong. I could not hold on.
"The father immediately gave the child he was holding to his wife to save the other. We all waded into water that came to our chests; unfortunately, it was dark and we could not advance beyond 50 metres.
"It was terrible to hold his lifeless body last night."
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This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions
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