Flash flooding in Adamawa State caused by a heavy deluge has submerged parts of northeastern Nigeria. Homes and livelihoods were washed away when the flooding started on Sunday in five communities surrounding Yola.
Eleven people are still unaccounted for, and at least 25 people have died. 5,560 people have been displaced by the disaster, so the government has set up a camp for them and is providing basic supplies like food, water, and shelter. During Nigeria’s rainy season, flooding is a frequent threat.
Climate change-induced extended dry spells have increased rainfall in recent years, causing abrupt and severe floods during even brief wet spells.
At least 200 people were killed in Mokwa, a farming village in Niger State, which was devastated by similar heavy rains in late May.
Additionally, according to United Nations data, floods affected over four million people in West Africa last year, a threefold increase from 2023.
Northern Nigeria continues to be extremely vulnerable as weather extremes are exacerbated by climate change. In order to safeguard communities from increasing flood risks, humanitarian organizations are advising authorities to improve emergency planning and infrastructure.
Source: Africanews.com
