Floods in Nigeria claim dozens of lives

Published Sep 10, 2012

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Lagos - Floods across Nigeria have killed 137 people and displaced more than 30 000 others since the beginning of July, the local Red Cross said on Sunday.

Nigeria, which has a rainy season from May to September, suffers from seasonal flash floods that are sometimes lethal, especially in rural areas or overcrowded slums where drainage is poor or non-existent.

Red Cross spokesperson Umar Mairiga said the floods had affected 15 local government areas, with the worst hit being Adamawa, Taraba and Benue states in the east-central part of the country.

“We are expecting the numbers of dead or displaced to keep building up,” he said, putting the latest displaced figure at 36 331.

There have been no reports so far of major damage to agriculture or industry. - Reuters

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