Local authorities in Twic East County have confirmed the death of an elderly woman who drowned on Tuesday after slipping into stagnant floodwaters that have submerged parts of Panyagor, the county headquarters.
The victim, believed to be in her late seventies, reportedly drowned late in the evening while attempting to cross a flooded section of the town.
Her body was recovered the following morning.
Twic East County Commissioner, Juach Arok Juach, described the incident as a tragic reminder of the dangers posed by persistent flooding in the area.
“She was trying to move across when the water overwhelmed her. Unfortunately, no one was around to rescue her in time,” Juach said. “If it were not for these stagnant waters, this life could have been spared.”
The Commissioner extended his condolences to the bereaved family and urged residents, especially children and the elderly, to exercise extreme caution around floodwaters.
He also said his administration is taking measures to control the flooding and prevent further tragedies.
“This morning, residents reported that a woman had drowned. When the medical team went to retrieve her, she was already dead,” he added.
Humanitarian organizations operating in Jonglei State have repeatedly raised alarm over stagnant floodwaters, warning that they pose risks of accidental drowning and outbreaks of waterborne diseases.
The deceased was laid to rest in her home village, where relatives and neighbors gathered to mourn her passing.
The tragedy comes just few days before county authorities celebrated the arrival of a new water pumping machine donated by International organization migration, which they hope will help reduce the devastating impact of flooding in Panyagor.
Jonglei State is among the regions most affected by seasonal flooding in South Sudan, with heavy rains frequently destroying homes, displacing communities, and cutting off roads and farmland.
