Hommam Al Nassim 
The Director General of Civil Protection in Niger, Colonel Boubacar Baku, announced the death of 21 people and the damage of about 6,000 others as a result of the heavy rains and floods that have swept the country since the end of May.
Baku explained in statements on public television that the toll includes eight deaths due to drowning and 13 others as a result of building collapses.
The floods also injured 26 people and killed about 4,000 heads of livestock, and the Maradi region, located in the south of the country, witnessed the largest number of victims, with 14 dead and more than 2,400 affected.
The Nigerian capital, Niamey, with a population of two million and known for suffering from deadly floods in the past, has not been directly affected so far.
The authorities send warning text messages to citizens, urging them to maintain safety and secure livestock, and reminding them of the emergency number to call in case of need.
The rainy season in Niger extends from June to September, and is usually accompanied by deaths resulting from floods, as the year 2022 was harsh and led to the death of 195 people and affected 400,000 others.
Last year saw 52 people killed and 80 injured, with 176,000 people affected by floods, according to data from the Nigerian Ministry of Interior.
According to environmental experts, several factors lead to flood waves that have become more severe over the past years, as Niger suffers from desertification, water scarcity, and floods, as it has witnessed severe climate change through rising temperatures and changing rain patterns, which leads to an increase in the severity of drought and floods.
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