Lagos (EFE).- Local authorities confirmed on Sunday that the number of people killed in western Nigeria due to flooding caused by heavy rains on Thursday has risen to at least 200.
The catastrophe occurred in Kpege village in the Mokwa local government area of Niger State.
“Our search and rescue operation continues. The number of victims could be much higher,” warned Ibrahim Hussaini, spokesman for the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
“Some bodies were found floating in the Niger River. Many people have been declared missing,” he told EFE earlier.
NEMA Director General Abdullahi Baba-Arah stated in reports published by local media that 503 homes have been impacted, and 265 of these destroyed.
In a statement, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said that the injured people evacuated to various health centers in Mokwa were treated and discharged. Meanwhile, some had received immediate first aid on the spot.
NEMA also distributed various food items, household utensils, and tents to provide temporary shelter, as well as drinking water, to the victims.
According to the Emergency Service there are over 3,000 people who have been displaced.
In a statement released early on Sunday, Nigeria’s president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, said that he had received reports of severe flooding with “deep concern,” as they had caused “tragic loss of life and the displacement of families.”
“I offer my heartfelt condolences to those affected and to the people of Niger State during this challenging period,” Tinubu emphasized, adding that “all relevant federal agencies have mobilized to the state government’s efforts.”
“We will guarantee that no Nigerian affected by this disaster is left behind or goes missing,” the leader pledged.
According to the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), at least 269 people have died, and over 640,000 have been displaced by floods in various parts of Nigeria since September 2024.
Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, experiences flooding every year because of torrential rain and overflowing rivers, exacerbated by poor infrastructure.
The country suffered its worst floods in a decade in 2022 when 600 people died. EFE
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