Dozens of people have died in the past few weeks in Benin from flood related incidents, according to the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC).

It says in a situation report that about half of the country has been affected by the heavy rains.

Homes, schools and other infrastructure including bridges have been damaged or destroyed by the floods, with rains intensifying in the past two weeks.

Significant agricultural and livestock losses have also been recorded because of the floods.

The IFRC says that the situation could get worse, as water from the Nagbeto hydroelectric dam on the Mono River, which runs near the border with Togo, is likely to be released “in the coming days”.

More rains are forecast until the end of next month.