Latest news with #NSEMA
Russia Today
2 days ago
- Climate
- Russia Today
Over 150 killed in catastrophic flooding in African state (VIDEO)
The death toll from flooding in central Nigeria has reached 153, local authorities confirmed on Saturday, as search-and-rescue efforts continue. The updated figures were provided by Ibrahim Hussaini, head of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), who said the disaster in the town of Mokwa followed heavy rains that began late Wednesday and lasted into Thursday. Hussaini reported that at least 3,018 people had been displaced, with 503 households and 265 homes impacted. Three communities were completely washed away, he added. In response to the disaster, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) convened a stakeholder meeting in Niger State on Friday. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has directed NEMA and national security forces to step up search-and-rescue operations in the affected zones. Alongside emergency response efforts, Tinubu has ordered the National Orientation Agency to intensify public awareness campaigns in flood-prone areas to improve preparedness and response for future disasters. In April, the minister of water resources and sanitation, Joseph Utsev, identified 32 Nigerian states and the FCT as high flood-risk zones, warning that climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of flooding. He highlighted coastal and riverine areas, including the states of Bayelsa, Delta, Lagos, and Rivers, as particularly vulnerable to sea level rise and tidal surges, which could affect fishing, wildlife, and navigation. Mokwa, located in Niger State, serves as a vital trade corridor connecting agricultural producers in the north with traders in the south. Nigeria is prone to flooding during its rainy season, which typically begins in April. Last September, dozens of people were killed and others trapped after devastating floods swept through Nigeria's northeastern Borno State. Sirajo Garba, the northeast zonal coordinator for NEMA, said over 1,000 people had been rescued, and that more than 70,000 displaced persons were staying in seven camps.
Al Jazeera
4 days ago
- Climate
- Al Jazeera
Nigeria floods death toll crosses 150 as thousands displaced
More than 150 people have been killed and thousands displaced after floods devastated parts of central Nigeria, local authorities said, as rescue teams continue to recover bodies and search for the missing. The flooding struck the rural town of Mokwa in Niger State following torrential rains that began late on Wednesday and continued into Thursday. The death toll has risen to 151 after more bodies were recovered nearly 10km (6 miles) from Mokwa, said Ibrahim Audu Husseini, a spokesman for the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) on Saturday. At least 3,018 people have been displaced, while 265 houses were 'completely destroyed' in the floods, he said, adding that many victims were believed to have been swept down the Niger River, warning that the toll could still Bola Tinubu extended his condolences overnight and said search-and-rescue operations were ongoing with the support of Nigeria's security forces. 'Relief materials and temporary shelter assistance are being deployed without delay,' he wrote in a post on social media. 'We lost everything, the families. We don't have anywhere else to go, the property has gone,' Mohammed Tanko, a local, told Al Jazeera. 'We lost at least 15 from this house.' Another survivor said: 'I escaped with only my nightdress. Right now, I can't even identify where our home used to be.' Meteorologists warn that more rain is expected in the coming days, raising fears of further flooding across the region. Flooding is a regular threat during Nigeria's six-month rainy season, but experts say the frequency and severity of these disasters are increasing due to climate change, unregulated construction, and poor drainage infrastructure. 'Flooding has become an annual event, between the months of April and October,' Ugonna Nkwunonwo, a flood risk analyst at the University of Nigeria, told Al Jazeera. He warned that while flood risks have long been identified, 'there has not been much political power to implement this change'. 'This flooding is a result of climate change, which is affecting the frequency and intensity of rainfall,' he said. 'The amount of rain you expect in a year could probably come in one or two months, and people are not prepared for that kind of rainfall.' Last year, more than 1,200 people died and up to two million were displaced by similar disasters across Nigeria. 'This tragic incident serves as a timely reminder of the dangers associated with building on waterways and the critical importance of keeping drainage channels and river paths clear,' the National Emergency Management Agency said in a statement.
Russia Today
5 days ago
- Climate
- Russia Today
Heavy rains trigger fatal flooding in African country (VIDEO)
Twenty-one people have died after heavy rains caused flooding in Niger State, Nigeria. The severe weather occurred on Thursday, submerging around 50 houses in two communities, according to local emergency officials. Ibrahim Hussaini, head of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, stated that three people were rescued and are receiving medical assistance at the central hotel in the city of Mokwa. He added that 21 fatalities have been confirmed, and another ten people are still missing. The severe flooding hit the communities of Tiffin Maza and Anguwan Hausawa in Mokwa, Niger State. According to the outlet 'Punch', Abullahi Baba-Arah, Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), said 'the agency, in collaboration with the Mokwa authorities, diverse and very brave volunteers conducted a search and rescue operation to rescue survivors and recover corpses.' 😭 At least 21 dead and at least 12 missing after overnight flooding in Mokwa, Nigeria, according to emergency services....🌊🌊 Preliminary reports indicate that the torrential rainfall in Mokwa swept away hundreds of structures and left several people, including children, unaccounted for. Nigeria is prone to flooding during its rainy season, which typically begins in April. Last September, dozens of people were killed and others trapped after devastating floods swept through Nigeria's northeastern Borno State. Sirajo Garba, the northeast zonal coordinator for the country's Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), said that over 1,000 people had been rescued, and that more than 70,000 displaced persons were staying in seven camps. In 2022, Nigeria experienced one of its worst flooding disasters, leaving over 600 people killed and more than 1.4 million displaced, while 82,035 houses were damaged.
