Last year Sudan experienced the worst floods in living memory. At least 150 people died, hundreds of thousands were left homeless and damages in the mostly desert nation were estimated at US$300 million.

"Now the levels of the Nile are approaching the levels of last year," Ali said, adding the river had reached 16.85 metres (55 ft) deep, just 10 centimetres short of last year's 16.95 metres.

But Ali said officials do not expect the disastrous effect of last year's floods because this year's rainy season started later, less rainfall is expected, and "We have lots of pumps ready and we are prepared."

In the mostly desert Sudanese climate most of the population live along the banks of rivers and in mud houses which easily wash away during floods.

Floods in war-torn Darfur, where more than 2 million people fled their homes to makeshift camps to escape fighting, can lead to epidemics of cholera and other water-borne diseases. Many of the camps lie in flood plains.

In Khartoum the few tarmac roads have flooded during rains this week and the dusty tracks in even the nicest areas of the capital became pools of mud. (Reporting by Opheera McDoom, editing by Mary Gabriel)