At least 200 people have died in the devastating floods that hit Mokwa, a market town in Nigeria’s north-central state of Niger. The death toll has risen due to torrential rainfall on Thursday, which caused widespread destruction and displacement.
Rescue operations were called off after officials confirmed there were no survivors left in the affected area. Authorities are now exhuming bodies buried beneath the rubble to prevent disease outbreaks. Over 3,000 people have been displaced, with at least 500 households affected across three communities.
The flooding was intense, with residents waist-deep in water and roofs barely visible. Two roads were washed away, and two bridges collapsed. President Bola Tinubu has expressed condolences and directed an emergency response to support victims and accelerate recovery efforts.
Climate change and excessive rainfall have worsened droughts in northern Nigeria, leading to severe flooding during the brief wet season. The Mokwa community is not used to such extreme flooding, with local leaders calling for long-overdue flood-control works.
Source: https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/death-toll-reaches-200-nigerian-town-submerged-floods-122399606