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10 Ways To Stay Safe During Flooding Emergencies

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In recent times, heavy rainfall and subsequent flooding have become all too common across states in the country.

This has over time posed significant risks to communities in many states of the country.

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Apart from the risk of loss of lives and properties, floods have the potential to elevate the spread of water vector-borne illnesses like typhoid fever, cholera, malaria, and yellow fever, among various others.

The United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention stated that flooding causes more deaths annually than any other thunderstorm-related hazard.

On Tuesday, there was a heavy downpour in several states in Nigeria including Lagos, Oyo and Ogun.

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The heavy downpour caused serious flooding leaving many residents and motorists stranded.

READ ALSO: New York Gov Declares State Of Emergency As Roads, Airports Flooded

The rain which started around 2 am and 5 am in some areas and spread across the states lasted till a few minutes before 10 am in Lagos and parts of Ogun state on Tuesday leaving roads flooded.

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In 2022, flooding affected 33 out of the 36 states in addition to parts of the Federal Capital Territory, according to the National Emergency Management Agency.

According to official data, the floods resulted in 612 fatalities, over 2,400 injuries, and displacement of 1.4 million individuals. Furthermore, the floods caused extensive damage to communities, agricultural lands, and transportation infrastructure, including roads and bridges. Approximately 200,000 residences suffered damage, with 332,327 hectares of land affected by the disaster.

As we are faced with the difficulties posed by increasing water levels, it’s essential to equip ourselves with information on how to ensure safety when dealing with floods.

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Below are ways to protect yourself and your loved ones during flooding emergencies:

READ ALSO: Flood Sacks Ondo Communities, Renders Residents Homeless

1. Stay Informed: Always take note of weather forecasts and flood warnings issued by local authorities to anticipate potential risks and take necessary precautions.

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2. Exercise caution: Study your surroundings and adhere to safety protocols before navigating through floods. It can be difficult to distinguish between roads and drainage in flooded areas.

3. Avoid walking, swimming, and driving through flooded areas: It is best to stay away from flooded roads. This is crucial for safety because flooded areas can hide dangers such as submerged objects, open manholes, or swift currents, which can pose serious risks to pedestrians and drivers.

Walking, swimming, or driving through flooded areas increases the likelihood of accidents, injuries, or even fatalities. Therefore, it’s advisable to find alternative routes or wait until floodwaters recede before venturing into these areas.

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4. Avoid construction of houses and other structures on waterways: Waterways are natural or artificial channels where water flows, such as rivers, streams, or drainage systems. Constructing buildings or structures in these areas can lead to various negative consequences.

Avoiding construction on waterways is essential for mitigating the risks associated with flooding, erosion, environmental degradation, and safety concerns as it helps to protect both property and lives.

READ ALSO: Flood Wrecks Havoc In Delta, Sacks Five Communities

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It also ensures sustainable development practices that respect the natural flow and balance of water systems.

5. Turn off electrical appliances at home: Ensure to turn off all electrical appliances in your home, especially as water is a major conductor of electricity. This means there is a higher risk of electric shock or electrocution in flooded areas. areas with flash floods.

6. Pay attention to the weather to plan your movement during the day: Be mindful of weather forecasts and conditions to make informed decisions about activities and travel throughout the day

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7. Ensure an adequate stock of provisions: It is crucial to secure sufficient supplies for survival. Basic food items and clean water are essential to ward off hunger and maintain hygiene amidst prolonged flooding.

8. Leave areas subject to flooding. You can move in with relatives who live away from areas prone to flooding.

9. Avoid drinking untreated water: Floodwaters typically harbour various contaminants, including fecal matter, chemicals, and debris. Drinking such water poses a significant risk of diarrhoea illnesses, dehydration, and potentially fatal consequences.

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10. Use waterproof containers: Use containers that are designed to prevent water from entering or damaging your valuables.

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Gunmen On Motorbikes Kill 22 At Baptism Ceremony In Niger

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Gunmen on motorbikes shot dead 22 villagers in western Niger, most attending a baptism ceremony, local media and other sources said Tuesday.

The shootings happened on Monday in the Tillaberi region, near Burkina Faso and Mali, where jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group (IS) are active.

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A resident of the area told AFP that 15 people were killed first at a baptism ceremony in Takoubatt village.

The attackers then went to the outskirts of Takoubatt where they killed seven other people,” said the resident, who requested anonymity for security reasons.

READ ALSO:Two Nigerians Face Jail Terms In Liberia’s Piracy Trial

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Local media outlet Elmaestro TV reported a “gruesome death toll of 22 innocent people cowardly killed without reason or justification”.

“Once again, the Tillaberi region has been struck by barbarism, plunging innocent families into mourning and despair,” Nigerien human rights campaigner Maikoul Zodi said on social media.

Niger’s military leaders, who came to power two years ago in a coup, have struggled to contain jihadist groups in Tillaberi, despite maintaining a large army presence there.

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Around 20 soldiers were killed in the region last week.

READ ALSO:Nigerian Jailed In US Over $6m Inheritance Fraud

Human Rights Watch has urged Niger authorities to “do more to protect” civilians against deadly attacks.

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The rights monitoring group estimates that the Islamic State group has “summarily executed” more than 127 villagers and Muslim worshippers in Tillaberi in five attacks since March.

Meanwhile, the NGO ACLED, which tracks conflict victims worldwide, says around 1,800 people have been killed in attacks in Niger since October 2024 — three-quarters of them in Tillaberi.

Niger and its neighbours, Burkina Faso and Mali, also ruled by military coup leaders who claim to pursue a sovereignist policy, have expelled the French and American armies that were fighting alongside them against jihadism.

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Serbia Indicts Ex-minister, 12 Others Over Train Station Tragedy

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Serbian prosecutors filed an updated indictment on Tuesday against 13 people, including a former minister, over a fatal railway station roof collapse that has triggered a wave of anti-government protests.

The prosecution said all those indicted, among them former construction minister Goran Vesic, face charges of “serious crimes against public safety” over the tragedy that killed 16 people last November.

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“The indictment proposes that the Higher Court in Novi Sad order custody for all the defendants,” the prosecutor’s office said in a statement.

The roof collapse at the newly renovated station in Serbia’s second-largest city, Novi Sad, became a symbol of entrenched corruption and sparked almost daily protests.

READ ALSO:FG Panel Indicts AFN In Ofili’s Paris Olympics Omission

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Protesters first demanded a transparent investigation, but their calls soon escalated into demands for early elections.

The Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Novi Sad initially filed an indictment at the end of December, but judges returned it in April, requesting more information.

The accused were released or placed under house arrest following the decision.

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The prosecutor’s office said it had complied with the judge’s request and had now completed the supplementary investigation.

READ ALSO:NDLEA Arrests Indian Businessman, 3 Others Over Alleged Trafficking Of N3.9bn Tramadol

The prosecutor specialising in organised crime and corruption in Belgrade is leading a separate, independent investigation into the tragedy.

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That investigation is focused on 13 people, including Vesic and another former minister, Tomislav Momirovic, who headed the Construction Ministry before him.

In March, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) launched a third, separate investigation into the possible misuse of EU funds for the station’s reconstruction.

AFP

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Kazakhstan Bans Forced Marriage, Bride Kidnapping

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Kazakhstan has banned forced marriages and bride kidnappings through a law that came into effect Tuesday in the Central Asian country, where the practice persists despite new attention being paid to women’s rights.

Forcing someone to marry is now punishable by up to 10 years in prison, Kazakh police said in a statement.

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These changes are aimed at preventing forced marriages and protecting vulnerable categories of citizens, especially women and adolescents,” it added.

Bride kidnappings have also been outlawed.

REAS ALSO:What To Know About Albania’s AI Minister, Diella

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Previously, a person who voluntarily released a kidnapped person could expect to be released from criminal liability. Now this possibility has been eliminated,” the police said.

There are no reliable statistics of forced marriage cases across the country, with no separate article in the criminal code prohibiting it until now.

A Kazakh lawmaker said earlier this year that the police had received 214 such complaints over the past three years.

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The custom is also present in neighbouring Kyrgyzstan, where it mostly goes unpunished due to indifferent law enforcement and stigma surrounding whistleblowers.

READ ALSO:California Lawmakers Approve Ban On Face Masks For Authorities

The issue of women’s rights in Kazakhstan gained media attention in 2023 following the murder of a woman by her husband, a former minister, a case that shocked Kazakh society and prompted President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to react.

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“Some people hide behind so-called traditions and try to impose the practice of wife stealing. This blatant obscurantism cannot be justified,” Tokayev said last year.

AFP

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