At least 151 deaths have been confirmed in Mokwa, Nigeria, due to flooding caused by heavy rainfall. Over 3,000 individuals have been displaced and at least 500 households affected. Rescue efforts are ongoing as many residents navigate waist-deep water.
In a tragic turn of events, the town of Mokwa in north-central Nigeria has been devastated by severe flooding, resulting in a confirmed death toll of at least 151 individuals. The local emergency services reported these grim figures on Saturday, following a series of heavy downpours that inundated the area. Rescue efforts have been ongoing as communities cope with the aftermath of this natural disaster.
The flooding has displaced over 3,000 residents, a troubling statistic revealed by Ibrahim Audu Husseini, a spokesman for the Niger state emergency agency. He reported that the flooding occurred in the early morning hours on Friday, hitting the town hard and leaving significant destruction in its wake. Over 500 households across three neighborhoods faced the brunt of the impact, with many homes submerged under water, making roofs nearly invisible to the eye.
Residents have been navigating waist-deep water as they attempt to salvage their possessions and seek safety. The situation is dire, as emergency services work to provide aid and assess the continuing risks of the floods in the affected areas. In a place where resilience is frequently tested, these floods have posed an unprecedented challenge to the local communities and authorities alike.
The floods in Mokwa, Nigeria, have inflicted heavy casualties and extensive property damage, stressing the need for urgent humanitarian assistance. With over 3,000 people displaced and entire communities underwater, recovery efforts will be crucial in the coming weeks. The tragic loss of life underscores the increasing frequency of such extreme weather events in the region, potentially calling for improved disaster preparedness and response measures.
Original Source: apnews.com