A dam in northeastern Nigeria collapsed on Tuesday, causing severe flooding that forced evacuations and released dangerous reptiles from a zoo into nearby communities. Local officials and the zoo manager reported the incident.
The Alau dam’s failure in Borno state led to one of the worst flooding events since the same dam collapsed three decades ago. The dam overflowed due to unusually heavy rains, as stated by the state government.
The flooding affected about 15% of Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, according to state police spokesperson Nahum Daso. Authorities have not yet reported any fatalities.
At the Borno State Museum Park, around 80% of the animals died in the flood, and several reptiles, including crocodiles and snakes, escaped, said zoo general manager Ali Abatcha Don Best.
Local authorities issued a flood alert and ordered immediate evacuations for residents near river banks, according to Usman Tar, Borno’s commissioner for information and internal security. All schools in the state will remain closed for the next two weeks.
This disaster adds to the humanitarian crisis Borno has faced over the past decade due to Boko Haram insurgents. The insurgency, which has spread across borders around Lake Chad, has resulted in over 35,000 deaths and displaced 2.6 million people in Nigeria’s northeast.
Boko Haram, with a faction allied to the Islamic State group, seeks to establish an Islamic state in Nigeria, a nation of 170 million people split almost equally between a predominantly Christian south and a mainly Muslim north.
Earlier this year, suicide bombers killed at least 18 people in a coordinated attack on a wedding, a funeral, and a hospital in Borno.
What Other Media Are Saying
- Breaking News reports on the catastrophic dam collapse in Nigeria, resulting in severe flooding and the escape of deadly reptiles from a zoo, affecting communities and sparking evacuations. (read more)
- Yahoo News reports on the devastating dam collapse in Nigeria, causing severe flooding and the escape of deadly reptiles from a zoo into communities, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in Borno state. (read more)
- KVIA reports a dam collapse in Nigeria, unleashing severe flooding and sending deadly reptiles from a zoo into flooded communities, with 15% of Maiduguri underwater and no death toll released yet. (read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
What caused the dam to collapse in northeastern Nigeria?
The Alau dam collapsed due to unusually high rains filling it to full capacity.
What happened to the animals in the Borno State Museum Park?
About 80% of the animals died and several reptiles, like crocodiles and snakes, escaped.
How has the flooding affected Maiduguri?
Approximately 15% of Maiduguri is underwater due to the flooding.
What are the local authorities doing in response to the dam collapse?
They issued a flooding alert, ordered evacuations for residents near riverbanks, and closed all schools for two weeks.
How does the dam collapse relate to the ongoing crisis in Borno?
The collapse adds to the humanitarian crisis exacerbated by Boko Haram insurgency, which has displaced millions and killed thousands.