75 dead in worsening Niger floods

Powerful rains that have swept the arid state of Niger since June have left 75 dead and affected 108,000 people, the government said. The previous toll issued by the Civil Protection Agency on August 14 was 32 dead and nearly 67,000 affected. The worst-hit regions are Maradi in the central south, Zinder in the central east, and Tillaberi and Tahoua in the west. The landlocked Sahel state's annual rainy season typically runs between June and August or September. But in recent years, rainfall has become more intensive, accelerating the risk of deadly flooding in shanty towns. More rain is forecast for the coming weeks, and the Niger Basin Authority has issued a warning for the capital Niamey, through which the Niger River flows. -- AFP