More than 115 killed in Nigeria rains, flash floods

KABUL (Pajhwok): At least 115 individuals have been killed and thousands of residential houses destroyed as a result of rainfall and flash floods in northern Nigeria, a media report said on Saturday.

Al Jazeera reported several hours of torrential rains battered Mokwa city late on Wednesday, with rescuers still searching for possible victims.

Niger State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) spokesman Ibrahim Husseini said: “We have so far recovered 115 bodies and more are expected to be recovered.” Thousands houses were destroyed in the flooding.

“Warnings have been put out by authorities for people exposed or communities living along river banks to move to higher ground, but every year we continue to see more and more lives and property damaged because of rainfall,” said an Al Jazeera journalist, reporting from Abuja.

The lack of preparedness of emergency services had led to natural disasters recurring every year and many people had no hope for a change in the situation, he added.

Last year, one of the deadliest floods in decades occurred in Nigeria, leaving more than 1,200 people dead.

hz/mud