The recent floods in Mokwa, Nigeria, have left a catastrophic mark, with over 200 confirmed fatalities and hundreds still unaccounted for, prompting authorities to shift focus from rescue to recovery efforts.
Devastating Floods in Nigeria Claim Over 200 Lives
Devastating Floods in Nigeria Claim Over 200 Lives
Tragic toll continues to rise as ongoing rescue efforts reveal missing individuals and widespread destruction.
The article text:
A surge of deadly floods devastated the Nigerian town of Mokwa on Thursday, leading to a tragic toll of over 200 lives lost, officials report. The extent of the disaster has left approximately 500 individuals missing within the north-central region of Niger State, as local authorities struggle to locate survivors amidst the destruction. Musa Kimboku, the deputy chairman of Mokwa Local Government, shared with the BBC that rescue operations have been suspended due to the grim consensus that no additional survivors are expected.
Described as the most severe floods to strike the area in six decades, this disaster follows relentless torrential rain which inundated communities, particularly Tiffin Maza and Anguwan Hausawa. In a bid to curb potential disease outbreaks, Mokwa's district head Muhammadu Aliyu announced that efforts to dig up corpses buried beneath debris would commence imminently.
Heart-wrenching accounts from local residents illustrate the scale of the tragedy. Adamu Yusuf mourns the loss of his wife and newborn baby, stating, "I watched helplessly as water washed away my family. I survived because I could swim." Another victim, Saliu Sulaiman, expressed his despair at the loss of his home and the destruction of nearly $1,500 in farm produce profits. "I contemplated going back into the room to get it, but the pressure of the water scared me," he lamented.
In response to the disaster, the National Emergency Management Agency (Nema) announced on Sunday that it has initiated the distribution of relief packages to those affected. Additionally, reports indicate significant damage to infrastructure, including roads and bridges, thereby exacerbating the economic fallout and disrupting local traffic patterns. The Nigerian Red Cross has also echoed the urgent need for assistance, highlighting the considerable loss of life and widespread distress caused by the floods.
While floods are a recurrent challenge during Nigeria's rainy season (April to October), recent years have seen increasingly severe occurrences. In 2024, heavy rains led to fatalities and widespread displacement, a pattern mirrored in 2022 when over 600 lives were lost alongside the displacement of 1.3 million individuals. The situation in Mokwa continues to evolve, with authorities and local communities grappling with the aftermath of this unprecedented disaster as they seek to rebuild and recover.
A surge of deadly floods devastated the Nigerian town of Mokwa on Thursday, leading to a tragic toll of over 200 lives lost, officials report. The extent of the disaster has left approximately 500 individuals missing within the north-central region of Niger State, as local authorities struggle to locate survivors amidst the destruction. Musa Kimboku, the deputy chairman of Mokwa Local Government, shared with the BBC that rescue operations have been suspended due to the grim consensus that no additional survivors are expected.
Described as the most severe floods to strike the area in six decades, this disaster follows relentless torrential rain which inundated communities, particularly Tiffin Maza and Anguwan Hausawa. In a bid to curb potential disease outbreaks, Mokwa's district head Muhammadu Aliyu announced that efforts to dig up corpses buried beneath debris would commence imminently.
Heart-wrenching accounts from local residents illustrate the scale of the tragedy. Adamu Yusuf mourns the loss of his wife and newborn baby, stating, "I watched helplessly as water washed away my family. I survived because I could swim." Another victim, Saliu Sulaiman, expressed his despair at the loss of his home and the destruction of nearly $1,500 in farm produce profits. "I contemplated going back into the room to get it, but the pressure of the water scared me," he lamented.
In response to the disaster, the National Emergency Management Agency (Nema) announced on Sunday that it has initiated the distribution of relief packages to those affected. Additionally, reports indicate significant damage to infrastructure, including roads and bridges, thereby exacerbating the economic fallout and disrupting local traffic patterns. The Nigerian Red Cross has also echoed the urgent need for assistance, highlighting the considerable loss of life and widespread distress caused by the floods.
While floods are a recurrent challenge during Nigeria's rainy season (April to October), recent years have seen increasingly severe occurrences. In 2024, heavy rains led to fatalities and widespread displacement, a pattern mirrored in 2022 when over 600 lives were lost alongside the displacement of 1.3 million individuals. The situation in Mokwa continues to evolve, with authorities and local communities grappling with the aftermath of this unprecedented disaster as they seek to rebuild and recover.
