June 28, 2016

Three Dead, Thousands of Tuareg Livestock Perished, Unusual Torrential Rain

Unusual torrential rain in Niger desert kills 3
Ismail Akwei with AFP 20/06 - 15:12

At least three people died and thousands of livestock destroyed after heavy torrential rain in the desert in northern Niger.

Nigerien state television, Tele Sahel, which announced the death toll on Monday described the rain as exceptional adding that it destroyed hundreds of shops and houses.

“Heavy rainfall caused significant damage killing three people in Bazagor, a locality of Tchintabaradene in the northwest,” they announced adding that more than 115 millimeters of rain fell within hours.



On June 14, Ingal, a town hundred kilometers from Agadez in the north, 85 millimeters of rain fell in two hours rendering thousands homeless as it collapsed hundreds of houses, according to local disaster management services.

The waters also killed more than 8,000 goats, sheep and cows prompting the prefect of the town, Abdourahamane Bikki to appeal to the government and international aid for help and the cremation of animal carcasses to prevent serious health problems.

The havoc created by the heavy rain in Niger adds to the number of damages recorded in the west coast of Africa including Ghana and Nigeria where flooding affected major parts of their capital cities.

http://www.africanews.com/2016/06/20/unusual-torrential-rain-in-niger-desert-kills-3/