ABUJA, July 27 (Xinhua) -- At least five people were killed and 55 others injured after torrential rains triggered devastating floods in Nigeria's northeastern Adamawa State on Sunday, authorities said.
Ladan Ayuba, head of operations at the National Emergency Management Agency in the state capital of Yola, said the overnight downpour submerged houses and infrastructure in parts of the city, forcing residents to flee.
Wooden boats were deployed to rescue trapped residents, many of whom are now seeking refuge in temporary camps, Ayuba said.
Nigeria frequently experiences severe flooding during its rainy season, which typically begins in March and peaks around mid-May, particularly in the north.
Experts have linked the worsening flooding to climate change, pointing to more erratic and intense rainfall patterns that increasingly overwhelm both drainage systems and the land's natural absorption capacity.
On Tuesday, the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency issued a fresh flood alert for Adamawa, 27 other states, and the Federal Capital Territory, warning of potential large-scale flooding through Aug. 5.
The agency said that more than 739 communities across 162 local government areas could be affected in the coming days.
