Debris from destroyed homes in the Anguwar Hausawa Gangari community, following devastating flooding that resulted in 151 fatalities and displaced thousands in Mokwa, Niger State, Nigeria, on May 31, 2025. — Reuters
Flooding in Mokwa overnight leads to extensive rescue efforts.
Nigeria braces for seasonal flooding as the rainy season commenced in April.
The 2022 floods resulted in 600 deaths, displacing millions and devastating vast agricultural land.
This week, catastrophic flooding in Niger State, Nigeria, has claimed the lives of 151 individuals and forced thousands to evacuate their homes, as reported by an emergency official to Reuters on Saturday.
Ibrahim Audu Hussaini, the director of information at the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, updated the death toll, which had previously been reported as 117 the day before.
He noted that more than 500 households were affected, with over 3,000 people displaced.
The flooding in Mokwa occurred overnight from Wednesday to Thursday and rescue teams are still sifting through mud and debris in their search for victims days later.
Nigeria is susceptible to flooding each rainy season, which commenced in April.
In 2022, the country experienced its worst flooding in over a decade, resulting in more than 600 fatalities, displacing approximately 1.4 million individuals, and destroying 440,000 hectares (about 1.09 million acres) of farmland.
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Drone footage reveals a flooded area after heavy rains in Tinonee, New South Wales, Australia, on May 21, 2025. — Reuters
SYDNEY: On Friday, authorities recovered the body of a man from a vehicle caught in floodwaters in southeastern Australia, bringing the death toll to four. This follows three days of relentless rain that cut off towns, swept away livestock, and obliterated homes.
Police reported that the man was discovered near Coffs Harbour, approximately 550 kilometers (342 miles) north of Sydney. Search efforts are ongoing for another individual reported missing since the onset of the flooding earlier this week.
Emergency services indicated that around 50,000 individuals remain isolated, while residents returning to their homes faced warnings about potential hazards.
“Floodwaters can harbor contaminants, including vermin and snakes, so it’s crucial to evaluate those risks. There’s also the danger of electricity,” stated Damien Johnston, Deputy Commissioner of State Emergency Services, during a news conference.
Video footage from television showed submerged intersections and street signs, with vehicles nearly entirely submerged, as rapidly rising waters overflowed riverbanks in the Hunter and Mid North Coast regions of New South Wales, Australia’s most densely populated state.
Debris washed ashore from the floods, alongside lost and deceased livestock.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was forced to postpone his planned visit to Taree, one of the most severely affected towns, due to the flooding.
“We attempted to go through with the visit, but circumstances made it impossible, which I believe people can understand,” Albanese informed reporters from Maitland in the Hunter region.
“Our thoughts are with the communities currently cut off. We are here to emphasize that you are not alone.” Australia has been experiencing increasingly severe weather patterns that some experts attribute to climate change. Following droughts and catastrophic wildfires at the end of the last decade, frequent flooding has devastated regions since early 2021.
“What were once infrequent storms are now becoming the new standard—climate change is reshaping Australia’s weather patterns, one flood at a time,” commented Davide Faranda, a weather researcher at ClimaMeter.
Disruptions in Sydney
A wild weather system that unleashed approximately four months’ worth of rain over three days moved south towards Sydney on Thursday night, resulting in heavy rainfall, though the weather agency projected a decrease in intensity by Friday evening.
Drone footage captures a flooded area in Tinonee, New South Wales, Australia, after heavy rains on May 21, 2025. — Reuters
Waterlogged rail tracks affected various suburban train lines in Sydney, including airport services, while Sydney Airport had to close two of its three runways for one hour Friday morning due to high winds, resulting in flight delays.
The Warragamba Dam, which supplies 80% of Sydney’s drinking water, is currently operating at about 96% capacity and could overflow, officials reported.
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Title: Devastating Tornadoes Claim Lives Across the U.S.
A recent wave of tornadoes and severe storms that swept through the central and southern regions of the United States over the weekend has tragically resulted in a death toll of at least 40, with many more individuals injured, according to local officials.
News broadcasts from the affected areas showcased harrowing footage of homes stripped of their roofs, downed trees, and overturned vehicles tossed about by fierce winds.
In Kansas, eight fatalities were reported due to a pileup involving over 50 vehicles, attributed to poor visibility during a severe dust storm, as stated by local law enforcement.
Oklahoma reported four deaths linked to wildfires exacerbated by strong winds, according to the state’s emergency management agency.
Meanwhile, in Mississippi, the state governor announced on social media that at least six lives had been lost, with three individuals still unaccounted for.
President Donald Trump earlier posted on Truth Social that he was closely monitoring the "devastating tornadoes and storms" affecting multiple states in the South and Midwest, initially citing the death count at 36. He also noted the deployment of National Guard troops to Arkansas, where officials reported three deaths and 32 injuries caused by the storm’s impact.
Missouri’s Governor Mike Kehoe remarked on the destruction during a visit to some of the worst-hit areas, lamenting, "The damage is overwhelming. Homes and businesses have been destroyed, entire communities are without power, and the path to recovery will be challenging."
The Missouri State Highway Patrol confirmed 12 fatalities linked to the storms and shared striking images of boats stacked atop one another at a marina devastated by the weather events.
In Texas, authorities reported four fatalities due to accidents that occurred amidst dust storms and fires, which severely limited visibility on the roads.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), last year marked the second-highest recorded number of tornadoes in the U.S., with nearly 1,800 incidents, second only to 2004.
An aerial view of the nightclub fire in Kocani, North Macedonia, where numerous partygoers lost their lives, on March 16, 2025. — AFP
In the early hours of Sunday, a devastating fire swept through a nightclub in North Macedonia, claiming the lives of 59 individuals. The blaze reportedly ignited due to on-stage fireworks during a performance, prompting authorities to issue arrest warrants for four individuals.
According to officials, 155 people sustained injuries and were transported to various hospitals across the nation, with 18 victims in critical condition. Some of the more severe cases are being transferred to hospitals in other European countries for specialized care.
The fire erupted at Club Pulse in Kocani around 3 AM, while over 1,000 young fans were in attendance for a concert by the well-known hip-hop duo DNK.
“At first, we couldn’t believe there was a fire. Then panic erupted, and there was a stampede as people scrambled to escape,” recounted a young woman who attended the concert, speaking to local media outside a hospital in the capital, Skopje.
Emergency responders arrived promptly and attempted to resuscitate individuals, but their efforts were insufficient, according to the woman, who was waiting for news about her friend with burn injuries to his hand.
Family and friends gather outside a hospital following the tragic fire in Kocani that resulted in 51 fatalities, on March 16, 2025. — AFP
The fire was likely triggered by the use of pyrotechnics meant for lighting effects during the concert, explained Interior Minister Pance Toskovski during his visit to the scene with Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski.
“Sparks ignited the ceiling, which was made from highly flammable materials, causing the fire to sweep through the nightclub quickly, filling the area with dense smoke,” Toskovski stated.
The interior ministry has announced that warrants have been issued for four individuals in connection with the incident, and a criminal investigation is underway, though no further details were provided.
“Based on the information available, we have confirmed 59 fatalities, with 35 individuals identified. Among the identified, 31 are from Kocani and four from Stip,” Toskovski said.
“As of noon (1100 GMT), 155 people have been reported injured and are being treated in hospitals nationwide,” he added.
Debris scattered on the ground outside the nightclub where the tragedy occurred in Kocani, on March 16, 2025. — AFP
“We are preparing to transport those with serious injuries from the Kocani fire to top hospitals in several European countries,” said Stojanche Angelov, head of North Macedonia’s Crisis Centre.
Kristina Serafimovska, the director of the Kocani hospital, informed reporters that the patients are predominantly between the ages of 14 and 25.
“Seventy of the injured have burns and carbon monoxide poisoning,” she noted.
A member of DNK, Vladimir Blazev, suffered facial burns and required assistance with his breathing, his sister relayed to local news.
‘A Heartbreaking Day’
“This is an incredibly difficult and heartbreaking day” for our nation, Prime Minister Mickoski conveyed on his Facebook page.
“The loss of so many young lives is beyond measure, and the sorrow of their families, friends, and loved ones is immeasurable,” he stated.
Videos shared on social media before the fire exhibited the use of “stage fountains,” a type of indoor pyrotechnics highlighted during performances.
Forensic personnel entering the nightclub where the deadly fire broke out in Kocani, on March 16, 2025. — AFP
Other footage released by the media displayed massive flames erupting from the building, a two-story structure located in Kocani, a town with a population of 30,000.
An AFP photographer witnessed military medical vehicles arriving to assist the local hospital with the influx of injured individuals.
Leaders from neighboring countries extended offers of help.
Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Rossen Jeliazkov described the fire as “a tremendous human tragedy” on Facebook and offered air force assistance to transport some of the injured to medical facilities in Sofia and Varna, Bulgaria.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed his condolences on X, previously Twitter, stating that he sends “heartfelt condolences to the people of North Macedonia for the tragic loss of life in the fire.”
Medical units from the Macedonian army arriving to provide support at a local hospital in Kocani, on March 16, 2025. — AFP
“Greece is ready to help during this challenging time,” he added.
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama expressed his sorrow, stating he was “at a loss for words” and ready to offer any assistance needed.
Messages of support also came from various European Union representatives, as North Macedonia seeks to join the bloc.
Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, expressed her sadness regarding the tragedy on X, stating, “The EU shares in the grief and pain of the people of North Macedonia.”
