Climate Change: Human-caused climate change intensified the deadly floods that struck West Africa last month, according to a new study by the World Weather Attribution (WWA) group.

Scientists said global warming made the extreme rainfall much more likely and significantly increased its intensity. They warned that similar disasters will become more frequent unless countries cut greenhouse gas emissions and improve climate adaptation.

The floods hit coastal areas of Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo and Nigeria after heavy rain fell between June 20 and June 23. Some cities recorded more than 140 millimetres of rain in less than 24 hours.

The downpour overwhelmed drainage systems and triggered flash floods across densely populated communities. Floodwaters submerged roads, damaged infrastructure and forced thousands of people to leave their homes.

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Officials reported at least 34 deaths in Ghana, five in Togo, while Côte d’Ivoire has recorded 59 flood-related deaths since May.

The World Weather Attribution team found that climate change made such an extreme rainfall event five times more likely. Researchers also said heavy three-day rainfall in the region has become about 23% more intense since weather records began.

Scientists expect rainfall of a similar scale to occur every two to four years because global temperatures have risen by about 1.4 degrees Celsius since the widespread use of fossil fuels began.

Researchers compared historical weather observations with climate model simulations to measure the impact of climate change. The analysis showed that human-caused warming increased the intensity of the rainfall and worsened the flooding.

Lead researcher Joyce Kimutai said climate models often struggle to capture tropical rainfall extremes. However, she said the findings clearly showed that global warming made the disaster wetter and more destructive.

Climate scientist Friederike Otto urged governments to strengthen climate adaptation while accelerating efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. She warned that extreme weather events will continue to worsen until global emissions decline.

The researchers also called for greater international cooperation on climate justice. They said industrialised countries should help vulnerable nations strengthen flood protection and adapt to increasingly severe weather.