By Atoyebi Nike
Heavy flooding has left widespread destruction in Hong and Demsa Local Government Areas of Adamawa State after hours of relentless rainfall on Wednesday, August 13, 2025. Entire communities were submerged, forcing many residents to flee their homes as water levels rose rapidly.
Witnesses described scenes of chaos as household belongings, crops, and livestock were swept away by the surging waters. In several villages, houses made of mud bricks collapsed under the pressure, leaving families without shelter. Farmlands already nearing harvest were inundated, threatening the livelihoods of thousands dependent on agriculture in the two LGAs.
Local authorities have begun preliminary damage assessments but have yet to release official figures on the number of displaced persons. Community leaders in Hong reported that several roads leading to neighboring towns have been cut off, hampering rescue and relief efforts.
In Demsa, farmers expressed fears that the flooding could wipe out months of hard work and deepen food insecurity in the state. “We have lost everything, including our crops, our homes, and even our animals,” said farmer Musa Ibrahim. “We don’t know how we will survive without urgent help.”
Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency (ADSEMA) confirmed that its teams have been deployed to the affected areas to coordinate evacuations, provide temporary shelter, and distribute relief materials. Officials also warned residents in low-lying areas to relocate to higher ground, as more heavy rainfall is forecast in the coming days.
Meteorologists have linked the severe flooding to unusually intense seasonal rains, which experts warn are becoming more frequent and destructive due to climate change. Hong and Demsa have historically been prone to flooding during the peak of the rainy season, but this year’s inundation is among the most severe in recent years.
Authorities are urging both state and federal agencies, as well as humanitarian organizations, to intervene quickly to prevent a full-scale humanitarian crisis.
