At least 150 people have been killed and thousands have been relocated since Thursday due to flash floods caused by heavy rains in central Nigeria, according to rescue workers, and the death toll is expected to rise.
As roads are reportedly flooded down the Niger River and homes destroyed, search and rescue efforts are ongoing.
What is known about the floods and how susceptible is Nigeria to them.
What areas of Nigeria are flooded?
Mokwa, a market town in the north-central of Nigeria, was a victim of flash floods. The Nigerian Red Cross Society reports that it came after a heavy downpour started at 3 a.m. (02:00 GMT) on Thursday.
The trade center in the south and the north’s food growers meet at Mokwa, which is a crucial meeting and transit point. East of Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, is about 350 kilometers (217 miles) by road. Niger, the fourth-largest state by area, has a population of 400, 000 people, compared to 400, 000 for Mowa, which has a larger area than Belgium or Switzerland.
How many people have passed away?
While search teams continue to find and find missing people and recover bodies, more than 150 people have been confirmed dead.
According to Ahmed Idris, a journalist from Mokwa, the death toll is likely higher because many victims are thought to have been swept down the Niger River.
When an official says 151 people are dead or missing, “you are likely to multiply that by two, three, or four,” he said.
According to Ibrahim Audu Husseini, a spokesman for the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, at least 3, 018 people have been displaced, 265 homes have been destroyed, and two bridges have been washed away during the floods.
More than 100 people are missing, according to Gideon Adamu, the head of the Red Cross in Niger State, who was speaking to the AFP news agency on Saturday. 121 of those injured are currently in hospitals.
As long as there are families crying out, Adamu said, “We can’t give up the search.”
In the deluge, Farida Auwalu, the only child from a 16-person family, lost seven children. Four of Farida’s children’s bodies have been discovered and interred.
She told Al Jazeera, “My hope is to see the remaining bodies, give them a decent burial, and have closure.”
What led to Nigeria’s flooding?
According to experts, climate change, unregulated construction, and poor drainage infrastructure have increased Nigeria’s frequency and severity.
Residents of Mokwa also believe a dam burst, which is a bigger issue, according to Idris, who is not yet verifying that. A fourth dam, Kainji, Jebba, and Shiroro, is being constructed in the state of Nigeria.
According to Ugonna Nkwunonwo, a flood risk analyst at the University of Nigeria, there has been a lack of political will to implement the solutions for them despite the identification of flood risks. People aren’t prepared for that kind of rainfall, he told Al Jazeera, and the amount of rain you can expect could probably arrive in one or two months.
In many places, there are inadequate drainage systems, and even the most effective ones frequently have clogged waste, accumulating water on the streets after heavy rains. Additionally, building construction in flood-prone areas has been hindered by rapid urban development and poor planning, which has reduced the land’s ability to absorb water. The land’s capacity to absorb rainfall is further diminished by deforestation for agriculture and development, which causes the land to flow more water.
Local leaders and residents want state and federal authorities to step in and offer long-term assistance and infrastructure to help them rebuild their neighborhoods and protect them from flooding.
Authorities have issued warnings to those living along river banks or those who live nearby, especially at the height of the rains, but every year, we continue to see more lives and property ruined as a result, Idris said.
What is the response of authorities?
Search and rescue operations are conducted by local volunteers, the Nigerian Red Cross, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
Additionally, President Bola Tinubu has mandated that emergency measures include temporary shelter and aid.
In a social media post on Saturday, Tinubu stated that “search-and-rescue operations are ongoing, and all relevant federal agencies have mobilized to support the state government’s efforts.”
Rescue and recovery efforts are hampered by the damage to roads and bridges, though.
Some flood survivors are battling to get basic medical care. No one helped the victims by bringing any money or food. Many people don’t have a place to sleep, Hassan Umar told Al Jazeera in Mokwa.
A major bridge that runs through the region’s northern and southern regions collapsed, causing stranded drivers and preventing vehicles from moving across the area.
What natural disaster has Nigeria experienced the most recently?
At least 30 people were killed and nearly half a million people were displaced by severe flooding in the northwestern city of Maiduguri in Borno State in September, causing the city’s two-thirds to submerged.
A prison that had been damaged by floods also had more than 200 prisoners escaping. The Alau dam collapse and weeks of heavy rain in northeastern Nigeria caused the disaster.
More than 1,200 people died and 1.2 million were displaced by flooding in at least 31 of the 36 states in 2024, according to NEMA.
Which Nigerian states are flood-prone?
From Wednesday through Friday, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency issued a warning about flash floods in 15 of the country’s 36 states, including Niger.
Low-lying states like Bayelsa, Rivers, and Delta in the Niger Delta region frequently experience flooding because of their coastal locations. Because they are located near major rivers, the northern states of Kogi, Benue, and Borno are also susceptible to floods.
The rainy season in the nation typically begins in April and lasts until October, when it is the wettest month. Because of inadequate drainage and the destruction of infrastructure during this time of year, problems arise every year.
