Flash floods caused by heavy rains have devastated Nigeria’s central state, killing at least 150 people, kicking out thousands since Thursday, and rescuers say tolls could rise.
Search and rescue operations are ongoing as roads are damaged and homes are being destroyed.
Here’s what you need to know about floods and how much Nigeria has a tendency towards such events.
Which parts of Nigeria are flooded?
Flash floods have hit Mokuwa, a market town in the northern Niger state of Nigeria. The Nigerian Red Cross Association said it followed heavy rainfall, which began at 3am (02:00 GMT) on Thursday.
Mokwa is an important meeting and transport system for traders from the south and food growers in the north. It is approximately 350 km (217 miles) on the road east of Nigerian capital Abuja. Mokwa has a population of 400,000, and Niger is the fourth largest state of its size, covering more area than Belgium and Switzerland.
How many people died?
Over 150 people have been confirmed to have been killed while rescuers continue to retrieve the bodies and search for missing people.
The actual death toll is likely to be high, as many casualties are believed to have been wiped out of the Niger River, according to Al Jazeera’s Ahmed Idris.
“The usual thing is, when you say 151 is dead or missing, you’re likely to multiply it by two, three, four,” he said.
At least 3,018 people have been evacuated, 265 homes have been destroyed and two bridges have been washed away by floodwaters, according to Ibrahim Oud Husseni, a spokesman for the Niger State Emergency Management Agency.
Of the injured, 121 were in the hospital and more than 100 were missing, Niger State Red Cross president Gideon Adam told AFP news agency on Saturday.
“As long as the family is screaming, you can’t give up on your search,” Adam said.
Farida Awal, the sole survivor of the 16 family, lost seven children in the flood. The bodies of Farida’s four children have been found and buried.
“My hope is to see the rest of my body, give them a decent burial and close them down,” she told Al Jazeera.
What causes floods in Nigeria?
Experts said the frequency and severity of floods in Nigeria is increasing due to climate change, unregulated construction and inadequate drainage infrastructure.
Mokwa residents also believe the flood is “a major issue upstream, perhaps the dam may have burst, but so far officials have not confirmed it.” Niger province has three major dams, Kainji, Jeva and Shiroro, but the fourth one is under construction.
According to Ugona Nukuunonwo, a flood risk analyst at the University of Nigeria, despite the identification of flood risk, there is a lack of political will to implement solutions for them. “The amount of rain you can expect in a year could probably come in a month or two, and people aren’t prepared for that kind of rain,” he told Al Jazeera.
Many parts of the country do not have proper drainage systems and existing areas are often clogged with waste, causing water to accumulate on the streets during heavy rain. Furthermore, rapid urban development without proper planning has resulted in buildings being built in flood-prone areas, reducing the natural capacity of the land to absorb water. Deforestation for agriculture and development further reduces the land’s ability to absorb rainfall and increases the flow of water on the land.
Local leaders and residents are urging state and federal authorities to intervene in long-term support and infrastructure to rebuild communities and protect them from floods.
“The exposed people and communities that live along the river banks, especially when the rain starts to peak, are open to the public by the authorities, but each year more and more lives and property continue to be damaged by the rainfall,” Idris said.
How is the authorities responding?
Emergency Services, including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Niger State Emergency Management Agency, Nigerian Red Cross and local volunteers, are engaged in search and rescue operations.
President Bola Tinubu also ordered emergency responses, including help and provision of temporary shelters.
“Search and rescue operations are underway and all relevant federal agencies are mobilised to support the efforts of the state government,” Tinubu wrote in a social media post on Saturday.
However, damaged roads and bridges have complicated rescue and recovery efforts.
Some flood survivors struggle to get basic assistance. “No one has any money or food to help the victims. Many have no place to sleep, as you can see,” Hassan Umar told Al Jazeera of Mokwa.
The important bridge connecting the north and southwest parts of the country collapsed, causing drivers to cut off and destroy vehicle movements throughout the region.
What have been the recent natural disasters in Nigeria?
In September, severe flooding in Maiduguri city, northwest of Borno state, sinking two-thirds of the city, killing at least 30 people and expelling nearly half a million people.
More than 200 inmates also fled the flood-hit prison. The disaster was caused by weeks of heavy rainfall and the collapse of Araudam in northeastern Nigeria.
According to NEMA, floods killed more than 1,200 people nationwide in 2024 and expelled 1.2 million people in at least 31 of the 36 states.
Which states in Nigeria are prone to flooding?
Nigeria’s weather agency has warned about possible flash flooding in 15 states of 36 Nigeria, including Niger, from Wednesday to Friday.
In the south, low-lying states such as Bayelsa, rivers and delta in the Niger Delta region frequently flood due to coastal locations. In the north, Kogi, Benue and Borno states are also located in major rivers, making them prone to flooding.
The country’s rainy season usually starts from April to mid-May and continues until October, with August being the most rainy month. Heavy rain during this period causes problems annually as it destroys infrastructure and is exacerbated by insufficient drainage.
Floods are common during the rainy season in Nigeria, but now it is not the peak of rain, Idris said. “In some states, the rain was only there for a month, and we still see this.”
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