People sit in front of a submerged building in the Patani community in Nigeria’s Delta state, which was hit by severe floods, October 15, 2012…VOA News
Floods
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Rainfall in many parts of the world is a welcome sight and a necessity.
Nevertheless, in Africa, it can be deadly.
“Floods are among the most devastating natural hazards in Africa, and flash floods are one of the greatest hazards arising from tropical cyclones and severe storms. Floods and flash floods cause loss of life, damage to property, and promote the spread of diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, cholera, and chikungunya. From 1900 to 2006, floods in Africa have 9 affected nearly 40 million people, killed about 19,150 people, and caused damages estimated at nearly US$ 4 billion. Africa ranks 3rd 10 after Asia and the Americas in frequency of flood events.”
“While the primary cause of flooding is abnormally high rainfall (e.g. due to tropical cyclones), there are many human-induced contributory causes such as: land degradation; deforestation of catchment areas; increased population density along riverbanks; inadequate land use planning, zoning, and control of flood plain development; inadequate drainage, particularly in cities; and inadequate management of discharges from river reservoirs,” as documented by the International Council for Science.
