Rescue operations are being hindered as officials fear no more survivors remain.
Nigeria Floods Claim Over 200 Lives, Thousands Displaced Amid Ongoing Rescue Efforts
Nigeria Floods Claim Over 200 Lives, Thousands Displaced Amid Ongoing Rescue Efforts
Tragic flooding in Mokwa, Nigeria, has left more than 200 dead and hundreds missing as local authorities assess the aftermath.
The devastating floods that swept through Mokwa, located in north-central Niger State, Nigeria on Thursday, have escalated into a national tragedy with officials reporting a death toll exceeding 200. Concurrently, around 500 individuals are still unaccounted for as search and rescue missions continue amid the destruction.
Musa Kimboku, the deputy chairman of Mokwa Local Government, expressed that rescue efforts had been officially halted, with authorities regrettably concluding that the likelihood of finding additional survivors is minimal. Witness accounts depict harrowing scenes of loss and survival. One local resident, Adamu Yusuf, shared the horrifying experience of watching his wife and newborn baby be swept away in the relentless floodwaters. "I survived because I could swim," he lamented.
Another survivor, Saliu Sulaiman, described how he lost approximately $1,500 in cash, the proceeds from his farm sales just a day prior to the disaster. Fearing for his life amid the rising water levels, he chose not to retrieve it.
To address the public health crisis brewing from the devastation, Mokwa's district head, Muhammadu Aliyu, announced plans to begin unearthing corpses buried underground to prevent the spread of disease. The flooding, characterized as the region's most severe in 60 years, wreaked havoc on infrastructure, damaging roads and bridges and severely impacting the local economy and transportation networks.
The National Emergency Management Agency (Nema) has initiated the distribution of relief packages to those affected, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. Their recent updates reveal the prevalence of distress caused by significant loss of life, with the Nigerian Red Cross echoing this sentiment.
Flooding during Nigeria's rainy season, from April to October, is a recurrent crisis, with last year’s flooding resulting in more than 600 fatalities and the displacement of over 1.3 million residents. As residents grapple with the aftermath of this latest disaster, the country faces the daunting challenge of recovery and rebuilding.
Musa Kimboku, the deputy chairman of Mokwa Local Government, expressed that rescue efforts had been officially halted, with authorities regrettably concluding that the likelihood of finding additional survivors is minimal. Witness accounts depict harrowing scenes of loss and survival. One local resident, Adamu Yusuf, shared the horrifying experience of watching his wife and newborn baby be swept away in the relentless floodwaters. "I survived because I could swim," he lamented.
Another survivor, Saliu Sulaiman, described how he lost approximately $1,500 in cash, the proceeds from his farm sales just a day prior to the disaster. Fearing for his life amid the rising water levels, he chose not to retrieve it.
To address the public health crisis brewing from the devastation, Mokwa's district head, Muhammadu Aliyu, announced plans to begin unearthing corpses buried underground to prevent the spread of disease. The flooding, characterized as the region's most severe in 60 years, wreaked havoc on infrastructure, damaging roads and bridges and severely impacting the local economy and transportation networks.
The National Emergency Management Agency (Nema) has initiated the distribution of relief packages to those affected, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. Their recent updates reveal the prevalence of distress caused by significant loss of life, with the Nigerian Red Cross echoing this sentiment.
Flooding during Nigeria's rainy season, from April to October, is a recurrent crisis, with last year’s flooding resulting in more than 600 fatalities and the displacement of over 1.3 million residents. As residents grapple with the aftermath of this latest disaster, the country faces the daunting challenge of recovery and rebuilding.
