The number of confirmed fatalities from flash floods in central Nigeria has risen to 36, following the discovery of additional bodies by rescue teams, an emergency official confirmed to AFP on Friday.
Heavy rains on Wednesday night triggered devastating floods in Mokwa, a city in Niger State, sweeping away over 50 homes and submerging several areas. Many residents remain unaccounted for, according to the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).
“Eleven more bodies were recovered this morning, adding to the 25 found earlier. This brings the current death toll to 36,” said Ibrahim Audu Husseini, a spokesman for SEMA.
Rescue efforts continued throughout Friday, with various teams working across affected zones in a race to find missing individuals.
“We fear the death toll may rise significantly, as rescuers are working in different parts of the area,” Husseini added.
Nigeria is currently at the onset of its six-month rainy season, which often brings severe flooding. Experts attribute the worsening impact of seasonal floods to climate change, which is intensifying weather extremes.
Flooding remains a major challenge in Nigeria, frequently exacerbated by inadequate drainage systems, building on floodplains, and poor waste management that blocks water channels.
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency had issued alerts for potential flash floods in 15 states, including Niger, between Wednesday and Friday.
In 2024, the country witnessed one of its deadliest flood disasters in recent history, with more than 1,200 fatalities and 1.2 million people displaced across 31 states, as reported by the National Emergency Management Agency.
