Severe rainfall in Niger has claimed at least 15 more lives, regional officials reported on Sunday, adding to the growing toll of the ongoing downpours affecting the country.
Since June, intense rains have been battering Africa’s Sahel region, and the recent deaths in Niger contribute to a total of over 217 fatalities nationwide during this period.
More than 350,000 individuals have been impacted by the floods. Last week, rising waters nearly cut off the capital, Niamey, from the rest of the nation before the situation improved.
The most recent casualties occurred on Friday in Maradi, Niger’s economic hub, which has experienced some of the worst flooding.
Regional governor Issoufou Mamane reported that the heavy rains resulted in 15 deaths, injuries, and extensive material damage.
On Friday, Maradi received 150 millimeters (six inches) of rain within just 90 minutes, leading to dramatic scenes of water rushing through streets, landslides, and damaged infrastructure.
The floods have disrupted drinking water and electricity supplies in several areas and have affected traffic on the main route between Maradi and Zinder.
Niger’s rainy season, running from June to September, has consistently resulted in high mortality rates, with 195 deaths and 400,000 people affected in 2022 alone.