Flooding caused by heavy rains in Niger has killed at least 45 people this week and forced more than 226,000 from their homes while 170 people killed in Pakistan in rain related accidents. flash flood this week killed around 160 people and washed away homes across the country
Niger's western region has been hardest hit by days of torrential rain that caused the Niger River to overflow, essentially shutting down the capital, Niamey.
Dozens of mud homes collapsed along the river in the Kirkissoye district and rice fields are submerged.
Prime Minister Brigi Rafini, who visited the affected neighbourhoods and families, was outraged.
He said the situation should not have happened in view of the river dyke rehabilitation work carried out just before the rainy season.
"I thought that the capital of Niamey was safe from flooding," he said, adding that efforts will be made to protect other threatened areas.
With climate change, "we are never safe from floods", the prime minister warned.
An emergency appeal had been launched for populations in flood-prone areas to abandon their homes.
Since Monday, rains and flooding have affected at least 25,800 homes, according to the Council of Ministers.
Since Monday, rains and flooding have affected at least 25,800 homes, according to the Council of Ministers.
In addition, 64 classrooms and 24 mosques have collapsed and hundreds of granaries have been damaged, the government said.
Niger, one of the world's driest as well as poorest countries, often experiences intense rainy seasons, which typically last two or three months.
Authorities announced in July that more than 300,000 people were at risk from flooding by the Niger River and from rainwater runoff since heavy rains began in June.
Authorities announced in July that more than 300,000 people were at risk from flooding by the Niger River and from rainwater runoff since heavy rains began in June.
In 2019, at least 57 people were killed and more than 132,500 were displaced by the rains, according to the government.At least 106 people have died and 52 others injured in rain-related incidents across Pakistan, according to the country's disaster management authority.
In a report on Friday, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said Sindh province was the worst-hit, where 24 houses were also damaged, reports Xinhua news agency.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah told the media on Friday that 80 people were killed in the province with 47 fatalities recorded in capital Karachi alone.
He said 604-mm rainfall was recorded in Karachi during August, breaking years-long record.
A total of 29 people were killed, and the same number of others injured with 196 houses destroyed in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the NDMA said, adding that two bridges and three mosques were also swept away by the waters gushing through the residential areas, roads and open fields.
The rains caused a disastrous situation in Balochistan province, where scores were left homeless after their houses were swept away by flash floods triggered off by lashing rains. The NDMA said that 15 people were killed, seven others injured and 907 houses damaged in the pouring rains.
In Punjab province, the Gilgit-Baltistan region and Pakistan occupied Kashmir, 12, 10, and six people were killed, respectively.
About seven people were also injured in the areas, the authority said.
The NDMA has provided 10,985 tents, 409.6 tonnes of food items, 2,956 blankets, 2,200 mosquito nets, 2,350 plastic mats, 2,000 tarpaulins, and 222 dewatering pumps in the affected areas.
It said that scattered thunderstorms and rain with isolated heavy falls are expected in parts of the country on Saturday.
The monsoon winds are the major source of downpour in the country during the months of July-September.
The rains also cause destruction in the country almost every year, inundating low-lying areas and sweeping away the houses located near river banks.
This year, the meteorological department forecasted more than usual rains during the ongoing season, and the concerned departments issued advisories for the general public to take self-precautionary measures.
Rescuers in Afghanistan continued to search amidst mud and rubble for missing people on Saturday after flash flooding this week killed around 160 people and washed away homes across the country, officials said.
Thirteen provinces, mostly in the country’s north, had been affected by floods, according to the Ministry for Disaster Management.
In Parwan, just north of the capital Kabul, 116 people had been killed and more than 120 injured, with 15 people still missing, national and local officials said.
“Rescue teams are still in the area and searching for the missing bodies,” said Wahida Shahkar, a spokeswoman for Parwan’s governor.
Flash flooding hit Parwan early on Wednesday, washing away homes and buildings. Local police spokesman Salim Noori said that the community in the worst-affected areas were mostly farmers and informal workers who were already struggling financially and that police were appealing for donations of blood for the many injured.
The Ministry of Defense said that Afghan security forces were assisting in recovery efforts and distributing aid. The forces have also been dealing with rising violence from the insurgent Taliban as the start of peace talks in Doha hit delays.
NATO said that its forces were also supporting the Afghan military and had flown food, water and blankets to the area earlier in the week.
Rescuers in Afghanistan continued to search amidst mud and rubble for missing people on Saturday after flash flooding this week killed around 160 people and washed away homes across the country, officials said.
Thirteen provinces, mostly in the country’s north, had been affected by floods, according to the Ministry for Disaster Management.
In Parwan, just north of the capital Kabul, 116 people had been killed and more than 120 injured, with 15 people still missing, national and local officials said.
“Rescue teams are still in the area and searching for the missing bodies,” said Wahida Shahkar, a spokeswoman for Parwan’s governor.
Flash flooding hit Parwan early on Wednesday, washing away homes and buildings. Local police spokesman Salim Noori said that the community in the worst-affected areas were mostly farmers and informal workers who were already struggling financially and that police were appealing for donations of blood for the many injured.
The Ministry of Defense said that Afghan security forces were assisting in recovery efforts and distributing aid. The forces have also been dealing with rising violence from the insurgent Taliban as the start of peace talks in Doha hit delays.
NATO said that its forces were also supporting the Afghan military and had flown food, water and blankets to the area earlier in the week.
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