[2] It rises in the Ahmar Mountains to flow north through the second largest city in the country, Dire Dawa towards the Awash River.

The river appears to lose itself in the Cantur Plain (Buren Meda) north of Dire Dawa, while it's river bed weaves through mountains to reach Lake Abbe in a small fan delta.

A flood in August 2006 killed at least 300, including 200 in the city of Dire Dawa.

The city suffered extensive damage and thousands of its inhabitants were displaced.

Communications infrastructure was damaged and the main road to the capital Addis Ababa was cut off.