At least 111 people have died in Nigeria today after severe flooding engulfed the major trading town of Mokwa following hours of torrential rainfall, officials have confirmed.
The heavy rain, which persisted for several hours yesterday, was reportedly exacerbated by the collapse of a dam in a nearby town, according to local media. A significant number of people have been displaced by the devastating floods.
Initial reports indicated at least 88 fatalities, but rescue workers have since recovered an additional 23 bodies, raising the death toll to 111. Authorities warn that the number of casualties could still rise as search efforts continue.
Mokwa, located approximately 220 kilometers from the capital Abuja, is a crucial hub where traders from the south purchase food supplies from farmers in the north of the country.
This tragic event follows similar devastating floods in September of last year when at least 30 people died and millions were displaced in Maiduguri, in the northeast of Nigeria, due to heavy rains and a dam collapse. Those floods compounded the existing humanitarian crisis caused by the Boko Haram insurgency.
Seasonal flooding is a recurring problem in Nigeria, particularly affecting communities along the banks of the Niger and Benue rivers, such as Mokwa. Even communities in the far north, which typically experience long periods of drought due to climate change, are increasingly vulnerable to intense rainfall and subsequent widespread flooding.
