At least 200 dead in flood-hit Nigerian town as rescues called off
Devastating flooding in Mokwa, Nigeria, has resulted in at least 200 deaths, according to local official Musa Kimboku, with rescue operations now called off as authorities believe there are no survivors.
The flooding, triggered by heavy rainfall, affected at least 500 households across three communities, displacing over 3,000 people and causing significant infrastructure damage, including washed-away roads and collapsed bridges.
Authorities are exhuming bodies from beneath the rubble to prevent disease outbreaks, while the Niger State Emergency service reported 11 injuries in addition to the fatalities.
President Bola Tinubu has ordered an emergency response to aid victims and expedite recovery efforts in the region.
Mokwa, a farming region unaccustomed to such severe flooding, experienced prolonged dry spells worsened by climate change, followed by excessive rainfall, leading to the deadly event.
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