Nile waters in Sudan have begun to drop after reaching record levels this year and causing deadly floods across the country, the water and irrigation ministry said on Sunday.

Heavy rains usually fall in Sudan from June to October, and the country faces severe flooding every year.

But this year officials said they had recorded the highest waters on the Blue Nile -- which joins the White Nile in the Sudanese capital Khartoum -- since records began over a century ago.

On September 7 the waters had reached 17.67 metres (58 foot), but by Sunday the level went down to 17.36, the ministry said, adding that the drop was being registered in several control stations across the country.

On Thursday the UN said that the floods had affected more than half a million people in Sudan, destroyed or damaged tens of thousands of homes and raised the risk of water-borne disease outbreaks.

According to Sudan's civil defence, at least 106 people have been killed and 54 others injured.

The disaster prompted the Sudanese government to declare a three-month state of emergency.

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Sandbagging saves ancient Sudan gem from record floods
Khartoum (AFP) Sept 10, 2020
Archaeologists feared the worst when record Nile floodwaters threatened to overwhelm priceless ancient royal baths in Sudan, but prompt action averted disaster - for now, at least. Authorities last week declared a three month national state of emergency over the flooding affecting swathes of land adjoining the Nile, and more than 100 people have lost their lives to the elevated waters in the country. Starting Sunday, teams set up sandbag walls and pumped out water to prevent damage at the ruin ... read more