One of Niger’s oldest mosques has been destroyed by severe rainfall, local residents reported to AFP on Wednesday.
The iconic mosque, located in Zinder, was built in the mid-19th century and was completely demolished after a massive downpour on Tuesday.
Ali Mamane, a resident of Zinder, confirmed that the historic mud building, a symbol of the city, was “wiped off the map” by the torrential rains.
The heavy rains, which have battered Niger since June, have caused flash floods and landslides across the Sahel region.
These extreme weather conditions have resulted in the deaths of hundreds and have affected hundreds of thousands more people across the country.
The mosque, constructed from a traditional earth and straw mixture known as banco, was the second-most visited mosque in Niger.
It was a major site of worship, attracting visitors every Friday and during Muslim festivals, said local religious leader El Hadj Mansour Kakale.
Officials reported that the mosque’s collapse was anticipated due to existing cracks, but repair efforts were hampered by ongoing rainfall.
The southeastern Zinder region has been particularly hard-hit by this rainy season, which has been marked by severe flooding.
As of August 22, government figures indicate that the flooding has resulted in 217 deaths, 200 injuries, and has impacted around 300,000 people across Niger.
The rainy season, which typically lasts from June to September, has previously caused significant damage, with 195 fatalities reported in 2022.
Scientists have linked the increasing frequency and severity of such extreme weather events to climate change driven by fossil fuel emissions.