Severe flooding in the northeastern city of Maiduguri has claimed at least 30 lives and forced more than 400,000 people from their homes, officials said on Wednesday.
“The death toll is 30,” National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) spokesman Ezekiel Manzo told AFP, following a day after water from an overflowing dam swept away thousands of homes in the capital city of Borno state.
“The situation in Maiduguri is quite frightening,” said NEMA’s Zubaida Umar. “The flood has taken over around 40 percent of the entire city. People have been forced out of their homes and are scattered everywhere.”
“From our statistics, we have 414,000 displaced people,” Umar added, expressing concern that the number could reach one million.
The UN refugee agency in the region stated on X Tuesday that the flooding was the worst to hit the city in 30 years.
Authorities are working tirelessly to provide relief to the affected residents, but the scale of the disaster poses significant challenges. Emergency services are calling for international assistance to help manage the crisis and prevent further casualties.
The flooding has not only displaced hundreds of thousands but also destroyed infrastructure, including roads and bridges, complicating rescue and relief operations.
Residents are urged to move to higher ground and follow the guidance of emergency services to ensure their safety.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
