A top official in Togo says at least nine people have been killed as torrential floods have submerged entire villages, AP reported. The African country's minister for transport, Ekpao Talaki, says the collapse of nine major bridges has hampered the rescue effort. The country's north is now unreachable from the south, and the government's web site says Sunday that at least 5,000 people are homeless. Ghana sent helicopters to rescue villagers trapped in their homes. France has sent a disaster crew from its peacekeeping mission in nearby Ivory Coast.
