Seychelles was plunged into a state of emergency on Thursday after torrential rainfall and a violent explosion wreaked havoc on the country's main island, Mahé. According to reports from the Associated Press, three individuals lost their lives in the flooding, while over 100 people sustained injuries in the blast at an explosives depot in Providence, an industrial area.

The state of emergency was declared by the Seychelles Ministry of Finance, citing the "double calamity" unleashed upon the country in the past 24 hours. The heavy rain and explosion prompted this urgent action, which was subsequently lifted later in the evening, as announced on the Ministry's official social media account.

The northern region of Mahé was the epicenter of the flooding, trapping residents in their homes, washing away sections of roads, and triggering landslides. Weather simulations had predicted the possibility of more than 4 inches of rain in the area during this period.

Data from the Seychelles Meteorological Authority revealed rainfall measurements of 114 millimeters (4.5 inches) in La Misere, 100 millimeters (4 inches) in Fairview, 85 millimeters (3.3 inches) in Le Niol, and 83 millimeters (3.3 inches) in Beau Vallon.

In Providence, the explosion occurred at around 2 a.m., leading to the hospitalization of 125 individuals with mostly minor injuries. The blast left a large crater and caused significant damage to buildings. The Seychelles International Airport, located approximately 2½ miles southeast of Providence, also experienced some damage, although it remained operational.

Mahé, the largest and most populated island in the Seychelles archipelago, is a popular tourist destination, measuring about 4 miles in width and 16 miles in length.

Meanwhile, other countries in East Africa have also been affected by severe flooding in recent weeks. Tanzania reported 47 deaths and 85 injuries due to flooding and landslides, while Kenya's death toll from flooding reached at least 76 as of late November.

Ethiopia, Somalia, and South Sudan have also experienced devastating floods, resulting in hundreds of fatalities and the displacement of millions since October. Scientists attribute these extreme weather events to human-caused climate change, a powerful El Niño phenomenon, and a cyclical weather pattern in the Indian Ocean. Recent research indicates that the rainfall in East Africa over the past few months has been one of the most intense episodes observed in the region within the last four decades.

The Seychelles now faces the arduous task of recovering from the aftermath of the floods and explosion. Efforts to rebuild damaged infrastructure and provide support to affected individuals and communities are likely to be undertaken in the coming days and weeks.