200 dead as Nigerian town submerged by floods, rescue efforts stalled
The death toll from devastating flooding in a market town in Nigeria's north-central state of Niger rose to at least 200 on Sunday, a local official said.
Torrents of predawn rainfall early Thursday unleashed the devastating flood on Mokwa, nearly 380 km (236 miles) west of Abuja and a major trading and transportation hub where northern Nigerian farmers sell beans, onions and other food to traders from the south.
The deputy chairman of Mokwa Local Government, Musa Kimboku, confirmed the updated fatality count to The Associated Press on Sunday. He said rescue operations have been called off, as authorities no longer believe there are any survivors.
To prevent the outbreak of disease, officials are currently exhuming bodies buried beneath the rubble, Kimboku added.
On Saturday, the spokesperson for the Niger State emergency service, Ibrahim Audu Husseini, said an additional 11 people were injured and more than 3,000 people were displaced.
At least 500 households across three communities were affected by the sudden and intense flood that built rapidly in about five hours, leaving roofs barely visible and surviving residents waist-deep in water, trying to salvage what they could and rescue others.
Husseini added that two roads were washed away and two bridges collapsed.
In a statement on Friday night, President Bola Tinubu expressed condolences and said he had directed the activation of an emergency response to support victims and 'accelerate' recovery.
Flooding is common during Nigeria's wet season. Communities in northern Nigeria have been experiencing prolonged dry spells worsened by climate change and excessive rainfall that leads to severe flooding during the brief wet season. But this flood has been particularly deadly in Mokwa, a farming region near the banks of the River Niger.
Mokwa community leader Aliki Musa said the villagers are not used to such flooding.
The chairman of the Mokwa local government area, Jibril Muregi, told local news website Premium Times that construction of flood-control works was long overdue.
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Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Hindustan Times
200 dead as Nigerian town submerged by floods, rescue efforts stalled
The death toll from devastating flooding in a market town in Nigeria's north-central state of Niger rose to at least 200 on Sunday, a local official said. Torrents of predawn rainfall early Thursday unleashed the devastating flood on Mokwa, nearly 380 km (236 miles) west of Abuja and a major trading and transportation hub where northern Nigerian farmers sell beans, onions and other food to traders from the south. The deputy chairman of Mokwa Local Government, Musa Kimboku, confirmed the updated fatality count to The Associated Press on Sunday. He said rescue operations have been called off, as authorities no longer believe there are any survivors. To prevent the outbreak of disease, officials are currently exhuming bodies buried beneath the rubble, Kimboku added. On Saturday, the spokesperson for the Niger State emergency service, Ibrahim Audu Husseini, said an additional 11 people were injured and more than 3,000 people were displaced. At least 500 households across three communities were affected by the sudden and intense flood that built rapidly in about five hours, leaving roofs barely visible and surviving residents waist-deep in water, trying to salvage what they could and rescue others. Husseini added that two roads were washed away and two bridges collapsed. In a statement on Friday night, President Bola Tinubu expressed condolences and said he had directed the activation of an emergency response to support victims and 'accelerate' recovery. Flooding is common during Nigeria's wet season. Communities in northern Nigeria have been experiencing prolonged dry spells worsened by climate change and excessive rainfall that leads to severe flooding during the brief wet season. But this flood has been particularly deadly in Mokwa, a farming region near the banks of the River Niger. Mokwa community leader Aliki Musa said the villagers are not used to such flooding. The chairman of the Mokwa local government area, Jibril Muregi, told local news website Premium Times that construction of flood-control works was long overdue.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Nigeria: Death toll from major floods passes 150
People search in flooded area following a downpour in Mokwa, Nigeria (Image credit: AP) The death toll from widespread floods in central Nigeria rose to more than 150 people on Saturday, local emergency services reported. After torrential rains earlier in the week, flood waters have swept away more than 50 homes in the market town of Mokwa in the central Niger State. Ibrahim Audu Husseini, spokesperson for the Niger State emergency agency told AFP on Friday that he "expected the toll to rise considerably because there are different rescuers at different locations." Additionally, more than 3,000 people have been displaced. Bola Tinubu offers condolences: Nigerian President Bola Tinubu offered his condolences to those affected and said federal agencies had been instructed to help with the emergency response. "I extend my heartfelt condolences to the affected families and the good people of Niger State at this difficult time," he said on social media. "Search-and-rescue operations are ongoing, and all relevant federal agencies have been mobilized to support the state government's efforts," Tinubu added. "Relief materials and temporary shelter assistance are being deployed without delay." Why is flooding so dangerous in Nigeria? Mokwa is a key local hub for traders from the south of the country and farmers from the north. It is located around 220 kilometers (140 miles) west of the capital Abuja. The flooding was triggered by several hours of heavy rain, with the collapse of a nearby dam exacerbating the situation. Nigeria's Meteorological Agency warned of possible flash floods in 15 of Nigeria's 36 states, including Niger State, between Wednesday and Friday. Nigeria's rainy season has only just started and normally lasts around six months. The annual occurrence regularly kills hundreds of people. A lack of drainage, the construction of homes on waterways and the dumping of waste in drains and water channels all make the flooding worse. Nigeria suffered one of its worst disasters in decades in 2024, with flooding killing more than 1,200 people and displacing another 1.2 million. The flooding, which impacted 31 of the country's 36 states, also destroyed more than 1.4 million hectares (3.5 million acres) of farmland.
New Indian Express
3 days ago
- New Indian Express
Death toll reaches 151 in north-central Nigerian town submerged in floods, thousands displaced
ABUJA: The death toll from devastating flooding in a market town in Nigeria's north-central state of Niger rose to at least 151 on Saturday, the local emergency service said, amid efforts to find more victims. Torrents of predawn rainfall early Thursday unleashed the devastating flood on Mokwa, nearly 380 kilometers (236 miles) west of Abuja and a major trading and transportation hub where northern Nigerian farmers sell beans, onions and other food to traders from the south. The spokesperson for the Niger State emergency service, Ibrahim Audu Husseini, confirmed the updated fatality count to The Associated Press on Saturday. In addition to the rising death toll, 11 people were injured and more than 3,000 people were displaced, the official added. At least 500 households across three communities were affected by the sudden and intense flood that built rapidly in about five hours, leaving roofs barely visible and surviving residents waist-deep in water, trying to salvage what they could and rescue others. Husseini added that two roads were washed away and two bridges collapsed.
