Severe flooding in northeastern Nigeria has left 30 people dead and over a million affected, according to authorities. A dam collapse in Borno state on Tuesday caused extensive flooding, displacing residents and submerging 15% of Maiduguri, the state capital. The dam collapse, triggered by unusually heavy rains, is the worst in 30 years. Authorities expect the number of displaced people to rise to 2 million.
Food prices have surged due to the destruction of the central market, and fears are heightened after wildlife, including a crocodile, escaped from a damaged zoo. Flooding across West Africa has affected 2.3 million people this year, a threefold increase from last year.
The flooding comes nearly two years after Nigeria’s worst flooding in a decade, which claimed over 600 lives. Rescue efforts are ongoing, with displaced people gathering at a former refugee camp outside the flood zone.
A report by the World Meteorological Organization highlights Africa’s vulnerability to climate change, with some nations spending up to 9% of their budgets on climate adaptation. The continent loses up to 5% of its GDP annually due to climate-related challenges.
