Floods kill at least 51 people, destroy thousands of homes in Niger Republic

By Our reporter

Aug. 31, 2020 - Torrential rains and floods killed at least 51 people and destroyed more than 26,000 homes in Niger Republic in the past two months, the nation’s presidency revealed on Monday.

President Issoufou Mahamadou during an emergency meeting said about 281,000 people, or 32,500 households, have been affected by the flooding since early July.

He said that in addition, more than 5,500 hectares of crops have been destroyed due to the overflowing Niger river, the president said.

Niger Republic is in the midst of its rainy season, which lasts from May to October, with the most rainfall occurring in July and August.

Flooding is common in Niger, where heavy rainfalls cause death and displacement each rainy season, mainly due to poor infrastructure.