Severe flooding caused by the collapse of a major dam in Borno State, Nigeria, has left at least 30 people dead and affected over a million residents. The dam collapse, triggered by unusually heavy rainfall, has been described as one of the state’s worst flooding disasters in three decades. State authorities reported that about 15% of Maiduguri, the state capital, is underwater, with residents fleeing their homes to seek safety.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) spokesperson, Ezekiel Manzo, confirmed the death toll and stated that the number of affected individuals could rise to 2 million as documentation of displaced people progresses. Residents face food shortages and fear of escaped wildlife after the local zoo was partially destroyed by the floodwaters.
This disaster comes as West Africa faces one of its most severe flooding seasons in decades, affecting over 2.3 million people across the region. Efforts are underway to assist those displaced, with many residents seeking refuge in former refugee camps outside the flood zone.