Niger: torrential rains leave a dozen dead and more than 16,000 victims
Audio 01:18
While Niger has always faced rains and floods, their intensity is increasing, according to experts.
Here, cars drifting on the Niger River, near Niamey, after the torrential rains, September 9, 2020. Boureima HAMA / AFP
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
Municipalities in several regions of Niger are currently experiencing flooding due to heavy rains that have been falling for several days at the start of the rainy season.
The most affected regions are those of Zinder, Tillabéri and Maradi, as well as Diffa and Tahoua.
In its latest report, the general directorate of civil protection recorded a dozen deaths, more than 16,000 victims, and numerous material damages.
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Exceptional rains, in a very short time, combined with the fragility of certain infrastructures and the occupation of flood-prone areas, caused this damage, according to the Director General of Civil Protection, Colonel Major Bako Boubacar.
In the Zinder region, the municipality of Hamdara is one of the most affected.
The images show collapsed houses, and people relocated to schools.
"
It's a village that is located on a slope
," explains its mayor, Oumarou Nouhou.
So the water first goes down a hill and crosses the villages before flowing into the ponds.
In its passage, it causes damage, in particular the collapse of houses, as well as damage to electrical and hydraulic installations.
»
"It is a rain never recorded in our localities", according to the mayor of Hamdara Oumarou Nouhou
Magali Lagrange
“
Further rainfall is expected in the coming days.
The forecasts announce a very wet rainy season: “In our opinion, this situation will continue, there will be other sequences of heavy rains here and there on the country
, explains Katiellou Gaptia Lawan, director of national meteorology.
We have had a
lot of flooding over the past year
, too, and we are witnessing a situation where the rainfall in terms of accumulation is increasing, but the number of rainy days is decreasing.
Which makes things much more intense
.
»
Damage assessment continues.
The general directorate of civil protection affirms that response plans are being put in place.
The authorities call for vigilance and to leave potentially flood-prone areas.
In case of danger, the authorities ask to go to a safe place and to call 18.
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Niger
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