Floods in central Nigeria have killed at least 111 people, according to officials. The market town of Mokwa in Niger State was submerged by torrential rains that caused a dam collapse in a nearby town. The flooding displaced thousands and left many homes partially or fully underwater.
Rescuers found more bodies on Friday as the search continued, bringing the confirmed death toll to 111. The situation is similar to last year’s severe flooding in Maiduguri, which killed at least 30 people and displaced millions.
Nigeria faces seasonal floods each year, particularly in areas like Mokwa along the Niger and Benue Rivers. Climate change has exacerbated this issue, causing prolonged dry spells followed by excessive rainfall that leads to severe flooding.
The chairman of Mokwa local government area has appealed for better infrastructure to mitigate the impact of future floods. He suggested the construction of waterways under a climate resilience project as “long overdue”.
Source: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/at-least-111-people-dead-after-floods-in-mokwa-a-market-town-in-central-nigeria