ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has described Tuesday’s flash flood in Maiduguri, Borno State, as an “unprecedented incident”.
Floodwaters from an overflowing dam submerged thousands of homes, sparking fears that the situation could worsen.
“It is an unprecedented incident,” NEMA spokesman Ezekiel Manzo told AFP on Tuesday.
“Some of the central parts of the city that have not witnessed flood in so many years are witnessing it today.”
The flood, which began over the weekend, was triggered by the rupture of the Alau Dam on the Ngadda River, located 20 kilometers south of Maiduguri.
The rapid rise of waters has displaced over 150,000 people and affected more than 23,000 households.
“The last three days have seen over 150,000 individuals and more than 23,000 households affected,” said NEMA Zonal Coordinator Surajo Garba.
“But with more locations being hit, we are sure the figure will be much over 200,000 individuals.”
The flood has severely impacted infrastructure, including Maiduguri’s post office and main zoo.
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Authorities have warned that dangerous animals have been washed away into the communities.
Images on social media showed an ostrich, believed to have escaped from the zoo, wandering the streets of the city.
Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima, who hails from Maiduguri, visited the area and provided further details.
“The flood was the direct result of excess water from the Alau Dam. The collapse of the spillways unleashed a significant surge of water downstream, causing widespread flooding in the surrounding communities,” Shettima explained.
NEMA’s Manzo added that climate change played a significant role in the disaster.
“Forecasts did not prepare the emergency workers for the extent of the flooding,” he said.
While Manzo confirmed that there have been deaths, he declined to provide specific numbers, citing ongoing rescue operations. To manage the crisis, authorities have opened three temporary shelters for victims.
“Homes are submerged, schools shut down, and businesses crippled as people evacuate with their belongings,” said the UN High Commissioner for Refugees’ Nigeria office.
So far, floods have claimed the lives of at least 229 people and displaced around 380,000 across Nigeria, primarily in the northern region.
NEMA also warned that central and southern Nigeria may face similar or worse challenges as the rainy season intensifies.
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In addition to displacing people, the floods have severely impacted agricultural land.
NEMA estimates show that around 110,000 hectares (280,000 acres) of farmland have been submerged, exacerbating Nigeria’s food insecurity crisis.
Save the Children reported last week that one in every six children across Nigeria faced hunger from June to August this year, a 25 per cent increase from the same period last year.
Historically, flooding has caused large-scale destruction in Nigeria. In 2012, more than 360 people died, and 2.1 million were displaced. In 2022, over 500 people lost their lives, and 1.4 million were displaced in what became the worst floods in a decade.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu expressed his condolences to those affected by the disaster, particularly families who have lost their livelihoods.
His office confirmed that he is working closely with state authorities to “address the immediate humanitarian needs of the affected people.”