By Taiwo Adebayo and Chinedu AsaduThe Related Press
ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — The loss of life toll from devastating flooding in a market city in Nigeria’s north-central state of Niger rose to at the least 151 on Could 31, the native emergency service mentioned, amid efforts to search out extra victims.
Torrents of predawn rainfall early Could 29 unleashed the devastating flood on Mokwa, practically 380 kilometers (236 miles) west of Abuja and a serious buying and selling and transportation hub the place northern Nigerian farmers promote beans, onions and different meals to merchants from the south.
The spokesperson for the Niger State emergency service, Ibrahim Audu Husseini, confirmed the up to date fatality depend to The Related Press on Could 31. Along with the rising loss of life toll, 11 folks had been injured and greater than 3,000 folks had been displaced, the official added.
Not less than 500 households throughout three communities had been affected by the sudden and intense flood that constructed quickly in about 5 hours, leaving roofs barely seen and surviving residents waist-deep in water, attempting to salvage what they might and rescue others.
Husseini added that two roads had been washed away and two bridges collapsed.
In an announcement on the evening of Could 30, President Bola Tinubu expressed condolences and mentioned he had directed the activation of an emergency response to help victims and “speed up” restoration.
He mentioned that safety businesses have additionally been requested to help in emergency operations, which stay underway amid issues that extra our bodies might be recovered in distant areas.
“Reduction supplies and short-term shelter help are being deployed at once,” the president mentioned, promising “no Nigerian affected can be left behind or unprecedented.”
Flooding is frequent throughout Nigeria’s moist season. Communities in northern Nigeria have been experiencing extended dry spells worsened by local weather change and extreme rainfall that results in extreme flooding through the transient moist season. However this flood has been notably lethal in Mokwa, a farming area close to the banks of the River Niger.
Mokwa neighborhood chief Aliki Musa advised the AP the villagers should not used to such flooding.
The chairman of the Mokwa native authorities space, Jibril Muregi, advised native information web site Premium Occasions that building of flood-control works was lengthy overdue.
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This story has been corrected to say that the flooding occurred early Thursday, not early Friday.
