Many die as water spilled from dam sweeps away settlements

Many people are reported to have died in northern Nigeria after water spilled from hydroelectric dams flooded - and in some cases swept away - villages, news organisations reported.

The disaster occurred when the National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) opened the floodgates at dams along the Niger River and a tributary of the Kaduna River following exceptionally heavy rains. The states of Koji, Niger, Kaduna and Kwara are reportedly affected, a media source told IRIN.

NEPA had warned two weeks ago that it would be releasing water from the Shiroro, Kainji and Jebba reservoirs to ease the pressure on their dams. Many people apparently did not hear the warnings partly because the state radio has been plagued by problems and partly because not everyone in the fishing and farming hamlets in the affected areas has radios, the media source said.

Reuters reported that the official death toll stood at 39 on Wednesday, with more than 210 settlements submerged or washed away since the gates were opened last week, and that thousands have been left homeless.

The source said a food deficit was expected in the heavily agricultural area since the flood waters have washed away farmers’ harvests.