More than 600 dead, 1.3 million people displaced as floods ravage Nigeria

More than 600 people have died and more than a million people have been displaced in the worst flooding in Nigeria in a decade.

The flooding has caused more than a million people to leave their homes and move to shelters, while more than 200,000 homes have been destroyed. (Photo: Reuters)

By India Today Web DeskDisastrous flooding in Nigeria has paralyzed the country with more than 600 dead and millions displaced, the BBC reported.

According to the disaster management minister, the recent floods in the West African country have become an “overwhelming” disaster as most states were not fully prepared despite several warnings.

Nigerian Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Sadiya Umar Farouk, held a press conference on Sunday and asked local authorities to evacuate people living in the most at-risk areas.

This is the worst flooding Nigeria has seen in a decade. The flooding has caused more than a million people to leave their homes and move to shelters, while more than 200,000 homes have been destroyed.

The flooding is expected to last until the end of November, the BBC reports. While the country experiences mild flooding every year during rainy seas, it is significantly worse this year.

The reasons for the catastrophic flooding in the country are said to be heavy rainfall and climate change. However, if experts are to believe, poor planning and infrastructure have exacerbated the damage.

In addition to the houses, large tracts of agricultural land have also been destroyed.

The flood has affected 27 of Nigeria’s 36 states.

The Nigeria Meteorological Agency has warned that flooding could continue into some states in the south of the country until late November, including Delta, Rivers, Cross River, Bayelsa and Anambra.