`I thought I would die with my six children` - dam collapse survivor

Fatima Yakubu can hardly believe that she and her six children survived after the Alau Dam near Maiduguri, Nigeria, collapsed following heavy rains. The floodwaters swept through their home in the early hours of Tuesday, with Yakubu waking up to water rising quickly around her and her children. "I thought I was going to die with my children," the 26-year-old said, recounting the terrifying ordeal. Thanks to the quick response of neighbors, Fatima and her family were rescued and taken to Bakassi Camp, one of several shelters for the thousands displaced by this week’s floods. The dam, located about 20 kilometers south of Maiduguri, had been showing signs of stress for days, but after an inspection, officials said there was no cause for alarm. Just four days later, the dam gave way, sending torrents of water into the city and covering nearly half of Maiduguri.

The floods have caused widespread devastation, affecting homes, hospitals, and public infrastructure, with authorities still working to rescue those trapped. This is Borno state's worst flood disaster in three decades, and officials fear the outbreak of waterborne diseases as the city's sewers have collapsed, contaminating water sources. In the overcrowded Bakassi Camp, families like Fatima’s are struggling to find enough food and shelter. Her children had to share one meal all day, while she went without. As aid efforts ramp up, the governor has provided immediate relief payments, but many displaced people are still in desperate need of support, living in makeshift shelters and enduring the constant rain.

The full scale of the disaster remains unclear, with many areas still underwater and thousands displaced across the region. Efforts to reconstruct the Alau Dam are urgently needed, though this will be a massive project that the state government cannot handle alone. ⚡ Image Credit: Maxar Technology - BBC