BREAKING NEWS, Environment
–
NIGERIANS have been warned to prepare for flooding arising from heavy rain fall from August to October. According to the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NIMET, 11 states will experience severe floods as their various soil moistures had reached or were close to saturation. The states are Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Kaduna, Kwara, Nasarawa, Yobe and Zamfara.
The NIMET, in its latest “Rainfall Situation and Prospects of Flooding” report for the months of August, September and October 2016 published on Monday, stated that the saturation of soil moisture in the affected states was due to cumulative high intensity rainfall in June and July.
The weather agency, which collaborated with the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency to monitor rainfall events across the country said floods should be expected in these areas because the soil is no longer able to absorb more rainwater in the coming weeks which coincide with the peak of the rainy season.
The NIMET had predicted that while many parts of Nigeria would experience lower than normal total rainfall due to the effect of El Nino, flooding could still be experienced in such areas, particularly those that were naturally prone to it.
Some parts of the North-West, South-West and low-lying areas were identified as particularly vulnerable to flooding during the 2016 rainy season.
These observations and projections were also in agreement with the 2016 Annual Flood Outlook that was released by the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency.
NIMet advised governments, communities and individuals in these vulnerable parts of the country to take proactive actions such as clearing water channels and drainages, and avoiding activities that block the free flow of flood water.
It said, “Closer attention should also be paid to NiMet’s daily weather forecasts and alerts. It is further advised that relevant agencies should perfect their emergency evacuation plans and activate them as soon as necessary. NiMet will continue to monitor the rainfall pattern as well as general weather conditions across the country and issue updates from time to time.”
On Saturday, the National Emergency Management Agency announced that flood alerts from the Republic of Niger, on the rise in the water level of its river, had shown that any time from now, Nigeria might suffer severe floods.
It stated that research had shown that the looming flood might be similar to what was experienced in many states in 2012, which began in July that year and killed 363 people, while over 2.1 million others were displaced.
NEMA described the 2012 floods as the worst in 40 years, as it affected an estimated total of seven million people while the damages and losses caused by the floods were put at N2.6tn. — With reports from the Punch
— Aug 9, 2016 @ 18:30 GMT
|
Tags:
