The death toll from severe flooding in Nigeria rises to 600
The death toll from the worst floods Nigeria has seen in a decade has risen to at least 600. More than 1.3 million people have been displaced from their homes due to the storm, the Nigerian Minister for Humanitarian Aid said on Twitter yesterday. The death toll was 500 before the weekend.
There have also been 2,300 injuries so far. It is estimated that 82,000 homes were destroyed by the floods, as well as around 110,000 hectares of farmland. Rice producers have warned the storm will push up food prices in the near future. This primarily affects rice, for which there is an import ban in the country.
Intense rainy season
A total of 27 of the country’s 36 states are affected. The floods are caused by the extremely heavy rainy season. It has been raining more than usual since the beginning of summer.
The flooding intensified recently after the Lagdo Dam in neighboring Cameroon was opened to release excess water and relieve pressure on the dam.
The country with a population of around 22 million faces a humanitarian crisis in addition to floods caused by armed conflicts in the areas around Lake Chad, which separates Nigeria from Chad.
Large parts of the country are under water:
Source: NOS
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