The toll of death due to extensive floods in Central Nigeria increased to at least 111 people on Friday.After the first torrential rains in the week, flood waters in the market city of Mokwa in Central Niger State have flowed more than 50 houses.Niger State Emergency Agency spokesman Ibrahim Adu Hussaini told Associated Press that “more bodies have been brought now and yet to be counted, but we have already confirmed at least 111.”Earlier in the day, Hussaini told AFP that he had “expected the toll to grow significantly because there are different rescue teams at different places.”The head of the Operations Office in Hussaini Ishah, the capital of Niger State, said that rescue efforts were still going on on Friday.
Why is the flood in Nigeria so dangerous?
Mokwa is a major local center for traders of the south of the country and farmers from the north. It is located about 220 km (140 mi) to the west of the capital Abuja.The floods were started with heavy rains of several hours, extending the situation with the collapse of a nearby curse.The meteorological agency of Nigeria warned of potential flash floods in 15 out of 36 states in Nigeria including Niger state between Wednesday and Friday.The rainy season of Nigeria has only started and usually lasts for about six months.The annual event regularly kills hundreds of people. Lack of drainage, construction of houses on waterways and dumping of waste in drains and water channels make all the floods worse.Nigeria faced one of its worst disasters in decades in 2024, with flood killing over 1,200 people and another 1.2 million displaced.Floods affecting 31 out of 36 states of the country also destroyed more than 1.4 million hectares (3.5 million acres).
