Nearly 400 Killed and 1.5 Million Affected by Niger Floods

Floods caused by unusually heavy rain in Niger led to the deaths of nearly 400 people in 2024, while over 1.5 million others were affected. The floods, which took place between June and September, caused massive destruction across the country, with south regions of the nation including Dosso, Maradi, Zinder, and Tahoua being the hardest hit.

The torrential rains, which were 200% more than normal, also resulted in severe flooding in urban areas such as Agadez, whose historic old city and 16th-century Grand Mosque were destroyed. In Zinder, a 19th-century mud mosque collapsed. The capital city, Niamey, was briefly isolated because of road damage.

The disaster led to the destruction of over 158,000 houses, the loss of 31,000 livestock, and an interruption of the school term because the majority of the schools had been used in the course of accommodating displaced individuals. Scientists blamed such abnormal weather conditions for climate change, which has led to increased storms and flooding.