Collapse of the Alau Dam, Nigeria
In late August 2024, northeastern Nigeria was struck by intense rainfall, leading to severe flooding. The city of Maiduguri in Borno State was particularly affected when the Alau Dam, situated 20 kilometres south on the Ngadda River, collapsed on 10 September. This disaster has impacted over one million people, with many losing their homes and being forced to relocate.
Flooded areas near Maiduguri and Yar Dole are visible in this image acquired by one of the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites on 12 September 2024.
The Copernicus Sentinel satellites provide open data which is used to map flooded areas and assess the consequences of such events. This information is key to helping authorities allocate resources and carry out recovery operations more efficiently.
