At least 59 people have been killed in flooding in Ivory Coast, according to a government spokesman,

Authorities ⁠fear the number of dead could rise as searches continue, said ‌Amadou ‌Coulibaly.

Flooding and landslides have followed several days of torrential rainfall which started on Saturday.

Some of the deaths have been in the municipalities of Attecoube and Yopougon in Ivory Coast's economic capital Abidjan, according to the minister of national cohesion Myss Belmonde Dogo.

Neighbouring Ghana has also been hit ‌by heavy rains.

At least 12 people have been killed there after flooding in ⁠large parts ​of the country, including the capital ​Accra.

Buildings and roads were submerged in the city on Monday, cutting off access to several areas of Accra and in the neighbouring city of Tema.

Among the dead were a mother and her child who were both swept away in the Achimota-Agbogbloshie district, said Ghana national fire service spokesperson Alex King Nartey.

Videos of the Accra floods showed residents swimming through water neck deep to rescue trapped neighbours, while vehicles were abandoned on flooded roads.

Access to affected areas was "a big problem" for the emergency services that had to request the military's help, said the fire service spokesperson. Several neighbourhoods remained partially flooded on Tuesday.

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Ghana's national disaster management organisation said emergency calls started around 7am on Monday as residents saw floodwater entering their homes.

"The whole place was flooded. It's alarming," said Mariam Dongyela Millah from the disaster agency.

The Ghana meteorological agency has urged local people to prepare for more rain this week in Accra.