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 on Thursday last week unleashed the devastating flood on Mokwa, about 380km 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.
Niger State emergency service spokesman Ibrahim Audu Husseini confirmed the updated fatality count on Saturday.
Photo: Reuters
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 people waist-deep in water, trying to salvage what they could and rescue others.
Two roads were washed away and two bridges collapsed, Husseini said.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu in a statement on Friday night expressed condolences, and said he had directed the activation of an emergency response to support victims and “accelerate” recovery.
Security agencies have also been asked to assist in emergency operations, which remain underway amid concerns that more bodies could be recovered in remote areas, he said.
“Relief materials and temporary shelter assistance are being deployed without delay,” the Nigerian president said, promising “no Nigerian affected will be left behind or unheard of.”
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.
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