Death Toll From Reaches 151 In Nigeria Town Submerged In Floods, Thousands Displaced

In Nigeria’s north-central state of Niger, the death toll from severe flooding in the market town of Mokwa has reached at least 151, as confirmed by local emergency services on Saturday. The flooding, triggered by heavy rainfall, affected the trading and transportation hub located nearly 380 kilometers west of Abuja. The disaster has caused injuries to 11 individuals, displaced over 3,000 people, and impacted around 500 households across three communities. The flood, which developed rapidly within a few hours, led to the collapse of two bridges and significant damage to roads. Efforts to find more victims continue, with concerns about additional casualties in remote areas. President Bola Tinubu has expressed condolences and directed emergency response efforts to assist victims and facilitate recovery. The community of Mokwa, primarily a farming area near the River Niger, is unaccustomed to such intense flooding.

Flooding is a recurrent issue during Nigeria’s wet season, exacerbated by climate change and excessive rainfall, causing severe flooding in the region during the brief wet season. The chairman of the Mokwa local government area highlighted the overdue need for flood-control infrastructure in the area.