BAMAKO, Mali

The Niger military administration on Friday postponed the start of the new academic year in schools and universities by at least a month due to floods in the country.

According to an official statement, the new academic year will begin on Oct. 28. Originally, it was scheduled to begin on Oct. 2.

The statement said the decision was made in response to the unavailability of classrooms that are either submerged in floodwaters or have been impacted by recent floods, with some educational institution buildings damaged.

Since June, floods in Niger have claimed the lives of at least 285 people, affected nearly a million people, and damaged 73,582 homes.