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Rising Waters: The impact of floods in Nigeria

Rising Waters: The impact of floods in Nigeria

ACROSS Nigeria, serene landscapes have been transformed into vast expanses of water. While the country is no stranger to heavy rainfall which often causes rivers to swell, this year’s floods have left a trail of destruction that has affected millions. Homes, schools, and farmlands have been submerged, leaving communities grappling with the aftermath of nature's fury. A trail of destruction Out of Nigeria’s 36 states, 31 have been affected by the floods which have caused more than 300 casualties and displaced 673,000 persons. Across the country, essential services have been disrupted as critical infrastructures including roads, markets, bridges connecting communities, schools and…
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200 die in DRC killer floods

200 die in DRC killer floods

CRISPIN KYALA AT least 176 people have died in flash floods in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, a regional governor said, as heavy rain destroyed buildings and forced aid workers to gather mud-clad corpses into piles. The rainfall in the Kalehe territory in South Kivu province caused rivers to overflow on Thursday, inundating the villages of Bushushu and Nyamukubi. South Kivu governor Théo Ngwabidje Kasi put the death toll at 176 and said that others were still missing. A local civil society member, Kasole Martin, said 227 bodies had been found. "People are sleeping out in the open, schools…
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Flooding in Nigeria is on the rise – good forecasts, drains and risk maps are urgently needed

Flooding in Nigeria is on the rise – good forecasts, drains and risk maps are urgently needed

VICTOR ONGOMA and VICTOR NNAMDI DIKE NIGERIA is one of the most flood-prone countries in West Africa. Many areas experience annual flooding. This happens during heavy rainfall and one of the reasons is poor drainage systems. The country, therefore, needs to make improvements. As researchers who have specialised in meteorology for about two decades, we believe there are several ways it can do this. The key interventions needed are: understanding the impact of climate change on rainfall extremes and water resources investing in a functional weather forecast system addressing the problem of poor drainage. These actions are necessary to build…
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South Africa declares national state of disaster over floods

South Africa declares national state of disaster over floods

SOUTH African President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared a national state of disaster to enable an intensive response to widespread flooding that has affected seven of the country's nine provinces. Mpumalanga and the Eastern Cape have been most affected by the floods, which were brought on by heavy rainfall as a result of the La Nina weather phenomenon, according to a statement from the office of the presidency on Monday. Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, the Northern Cape, and North West have also experienced flooding. Invoking the national disaster act gives the government additional powers, including in the procurement and delivery of goods and services…
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SA declares national state of disaster over floods

SA declares national state of disaster over floods

SOUTH African President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared a national state of disaster to enable an intensive response to widespread flooding that has affected seven of the country's nine provinces. Mpumalanga and the Eastern Cape have been most affected by the floods, which were brought on by heavy rainfall as a result of the La Nina weather phenomenon, according to a statement from the office of the presidency on Monday. Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, the Northern Cape, and North West have also experienced flooding. Invoking the national disaster act gives the government additional powers, including in the procurement and delivery of goods and services…
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South Sudan families displaced by fighting forced out again by floods

South Sudan families displaced by fighting forced out again by floods

ANDREEA CAMPEANU BY the time the waters started rising, ethnic violence had already forced South Sudanese mother Vorgol Poulo, her husband, and their seven children to flee their home twice this year. They were desperate to stay home when the rains began in July but ten days of heavy rainfall destroyed most of their possessions, forcing them out for a third time. "The cows are sick. We have lost so many, we don't know the number," said Pulo, who sold charcoal before flooding put most of the market under water. She spoke to Reuters on a patch of grass poking…
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