On September 10, 2024, a dam collapsed in northeastern Nigeria resulting in severe flooding, prompting an immediate evacuation. The dam in question is the Alau Dam located in Borno. This also isn’t the first time the dam has flooded as it also collapsed 30 years ago resulting in some of the state’s worst flooding cases forcing citizens to flee their homes. According to local officials and a zoo manager, the dam broke due to unusually high rains in the area. The result of the flood has been devastating as it swept deadly reptiles from nearby zoos into communities.
It is estimated that 15% of Borno’s state capital, Maiduguri, was underwater. At the nearby Borno State Museum Park, the flooding is reported to have killed roughly 80% of the animals while an unknown number of reptiles escaped. This severe flooding has caused local authorities in Borno to issue a flooding warning, and furthermore, schools in the area will be closed for the next two weeks. Unfortunately, the flood has left thirty people dead and affected millions of others. An aide for the governor of Borno estimates that the number of affected can quickly rise from one million to two million people. Mary Mamza, a local resident, reports that people are afraid to leave their homes after a crocodile was killed near her home earlier that day. However, despite the unfavorable circumstances at hand, the governor's aide continues to stress that rescue operations are underway and that people who are displaced due to the flooding will have a place to stay outside the flood zone.
As devastating as this flooding is, flooding in Africa isn’t necessarily considered a surprise anymore. West Africa continues to experience some of the worst flooding cases in the past decades due to the increased effect of climate change. It is estimated that 2.3 million people were affected by the flooding in Africa this year which is several times more than previous years.
The flooding circumstances in Africa have devastated many lives and continue to do so. Due to Africa’s location, the worsening effects of climate change are taking a toll on African lands. As a result of flooding, Africa’s economy is also severely affected. Although there isn’t much we can do to help them, we can however offer our condolences to the families affected and individuals killed.