ASSESSMENT OF FLOOD DISASTER OCCURRENCES IN DELTA STATE OF SOUTHERN NIGERIA

Flooding is a recurring and destructive ecological hazard in Delta State, Nigeria. This review tends to appraise the environmental consequences of the major flood events in Delta State, with an emphasis on the loss of biodiversity and widespread pollution of water bodies. Delta State is characterized by flood basins, complex surface water networks, and high annual rainfall, which makes it susceptible to seasonal and flash floods. Major flood disasters witnessed in the state were the 2012, 2018, and 2022 floods, which displaced thousands of people, killed tens of residents, and caused irreversible ecological damage. Additionally, the occurrence of persistent heavy rainfall and flash floods in the state has destroyed properties worth billions of US dollars. The review tends to identify and document the major disasters caused by flooding in the state within the last two decades. The findings will help prevent persistent flooding in the state and enhance the restoration of the degraded environment.