At least 111 dead in Nigeria floods as country struggles with climate shifts
Torrents of predawn rain unleashed flooding that killed at least 111 people in a market town where northern Nigerian farmers sell their wares to traders from the south, officials said Friday, predicting the death toll would grow.
The Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency did not immediately say how much rain fell after midnight Thursday in the town of Mokwa in the state of Niger more than 180 miles (300 kilometers) west of Abuja, the capital of Africa's most populous nation.
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.
In videos and photos on social media, floodwaters covered neighborhoods and homes were submerged, with their roofs barely visible above the brown colored waters. Waist-deep in water, residents tried to salvage what they could, or rescue others.
'We lost many lives, and the properties, our farm produce. Those that have their storage have lost it,' Kazeem Muhammed, a Mokwa resident, said.
Besides the 111 confirmed dead, 'more bodies have just been brought and are yet to be counted,' Niger state emergency agency spokesman IIbrahim Audu Husseini told The Associated Press by telephone Friday afternoon.
Mokwa, nearly 380 kilometers (236 miles) west of Abuja, is a major meeting point where traders from the south buy beans, onions and other food from farmers in the north.
Mokwa community leader Aliki Musa told the AP the villagers are not used to such flooding. 'The water is like spiritual water which used to come but it's seasonal,' said Musa. 'It can come now (and) it will reach another twenty years before coming again."
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.
'This critical infrastructure is essential to mitigating future flood risks and protecting lives and property,' he said.
In September, torrential rains and a dam collapse in the northeastern city of Maiduguri caused severe flooding that left at least 30 people dead and displaced millions, worsening the humanitarian crisis caused by the Boko Haram insurgency.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
16 hours ago
- News18
6.4 magnitude earthquake hits northern Chile, with no reports of casualties
Last Updated: Santiago, Jun 6 (AP) A 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck northern Chile on Friday, causing minor infrastructure damage and cutting power to over 20,000 people. Authorities have not reported any casualties following the tremor. The US Geological Survey (USGS) reported the quake hit at 1:15 pm local time (5:15 p.m. GMT) at a depth of 76 kilometres (47 miles). Its epicentre was located near the coast of the Atacama Desert. While the quake was felt across several communities in the expansive Atacama Desert region, initial reports confirmed no immediate casualties. Chile's Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service said the earthquake's characteristics did not meet the conditions necessary to generate a tsunami along the South American coast. Miguel Ortiz, deputy director of Chile's national disaster response service, Senapred, said the powerful earthquake caused 'minor" infrastructure damage and power disruptions, leaving nearly 23,000 people without electricity. 'Some minor landslides have been recorded, which are being monitored and coordinated with the municipalities," he said. Ortiz also noted 'some minor landslides," which are being monitored and coordinated with local municipalities. Chilean President Gabriel Boric, said on X his government was in communication with the regional presidential delegate, and confirmed there were 'no reported casualties." (AP) GSP
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
2 days ago
- Business Standard
Over 1.5 million foreign pilgrims arrive in Saudi Arabia for Hajj
More than 1.5 million foreign pilgrims are in Saudi Arabia for this year's Hajj, a government spokesperson said Wednesday. Hajj is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, a religious obligation involving rituals and acts of worship that every Muslim must fulfil if they have the money and are physically able to do it. Hajj Ministry spokesperson Ghassan Al-Nuwaimi provided an approximate number for foreigners at this year's pilgrimage. He did not say how many domestic pilgrims were taking part. Last year, there were 1,611,310 pilgrims from outside the country. On Wednesday, pilgrims streamed into Arafat, some making the journey on foot, carrying their luggage through temperatures nudging 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). Others carried the elderly. People paused to sit on the ground to rest or eat before heading to their camps. Mount Arafat, a rocky hill southeast of Mecca, holds immense significance in Islam. Arafat is mentioned in the Quran and it is where the Prophet Muhammad is said to have given his last sermon on his final Hajj. According to traditional sayings of the prophet, the Day of Arafat is the most sacred day of the year, when God draws near to the faithful and forgives their sins. Pilgrims remain in Arafat, in prayer and reflection, from after midnight until after sunset. After sunset Thursday, pilgrims will go to the desert plain of Muzdalifah to collect pebbles, which they will use in a ritual. Saudi Arabia has spent billions of dollars on crowd control and safety measures, but the mass of participants makes ensuring their safety difficult. One of the greatest challenges at the Hajj in recent years has been the heat. Earlier in the week, Health Minister Fahad bin Abdulrahman Al-Jalajel told The Associated Press that 10,000 trees have been planted to provide more shade, there is increased hospital bed capacity, and the number of paramedics has tripled.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
3 days ago
- First Post
Smoke from Canadian wildfires chokes US Midwest, air turns ‘very unhealthy'
Smoke from Canadian wildfires continued to blanket parts of the US Midwest on Tuesday, with air quality in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan reaching 'very unhealthy' levels. read more Wildfire smoke hangs in the air above Highway 97 north of Buckinghorse River, British Columbia, on Friday, May 30, 2025. AP Photo Smoke from wildfires in Canada caused another day of poor air quality across parts of the US Midwest on Tuesday, especially in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan, where conditions were rated 'very unhealthy.' Over 27,000 people in Canada have been forced to evacuate, and the smoke has even reached Europe. In the Minneapolis-St Paul area, the smell of smoke lingered despite some rain. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency issued a warning for nearly the whole state, saying air quality would slowly improve by Wednesday. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The smoke also affected parts of Iowa, where officials advised people—especially those with heart or lung conditions—to avoid intense outdoor activity. The smoky air reached as far as Georgia in the southeast, the Dakotas in the west, and Michigan in the east. The US Air Quality Index (AQI) showed unhealthy to very unhealthy levels in several areas, especially in eastern Minnesota and the Twin Cities. Some places briefly reached the 'hazardous' maroon category, but conditions started to improve by midday. Hospitals in Minneapolis reported a slight rise in patients with breathing problems linked to the smoke. Dr. Rachel Strykowski, a lung specialist, said wildfire smoke makes conditions like asthma and COPD worse. She advised people to stay indoors and wear N95 masks if going outside, as regular cloth masks don't provide enough protection. This is a developing story.
