At least 24 people are missing as Yemen has been lashed by torrential rains that triggered floods, exacerbating the spread of waterborne diseases, the authorities said.

The floods hit al-Mahwit, a province west of the capital, Sanaa, controlled by the Iran-aligned Houthi group, with landslides destroying seven homes in the Milhan district, police said on Wednesday.

The rising waters swept away cars, cut off roads, and led to the collapse of three dams in the province.

The Houthi-affiliated Al Masirah TV reported that a number of ambulances from neighbouring areas in al-Mahwit, as well as the province of Hodeidah, were sent in to help with rescue efforts.