Floodwaters that swept through the market town of Mokwa in north-central Niger state have killed at least 151 people and left more than 3,000 homeless, authorities said Saturday.
Ibrahim Audu Hussaini, spokesman for the state emergency agency, said rescuers were still combing mud-filled streets and collapsed buildings three days after predawn rains sent a surge of water through the farming hub about 240 miles (380 kilometers) west of Abuja. More than 500 households were affected, he added.
Nigeria’s rainy season began in April, and flash floods are common, but officials called this week’s deluge the worst in years for the area. In 2022, the country’s most damaging floods in more than a decade killed over 600 people and uprooted 1.4 million nationwide.
State relief teams have set up temporary shelters and are distributing food and medical supplies, but damaged roads and bridges are hampering deliveries. Weather forecasters warn that further heavy rains could trigger additional flooding in the coming weeks.
