Jun 01, Kathmandu-The death toll from devastating floods that struck the Nigerian town of Mokwa on Thursday has risen to over 200, with around 500 people still missing, according to local officials. The floods, described as the worst in the area in 60 years, swept through the towns of Tiffin Maza and Anguwan Hausawa following intense rainfall. Rescue efforts have been called off as authorities no longer believe any survivors can be found, said Musa Kimboku, deputy chairman of Mokwa Local Government. Mokwa’s district head, Muhammadu Aliyu, announced that authorities will begin exhuming buried corpses to prevent disease outbreaks. Residents described harrowing scenes of destruction, with homes and loved ones being washed away. On Sunday, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) began distributing relief packages to affected residents and noted that the floods had damaged roads and bridges, disrupting the local economy and transportation. The Nigerian Red Cross confirmed the widespread devastation, calling the disaster a cause of “significant loss of life and widespread distress.” Flooding is a recurring threat during Nigeria's rainy season, which runs from April to October. In previous years, including 2022 and 2024, the country experienced severe floods that caused hundreds of deaths and displaced millions.