August 28, 2012
Five persons have been confirmed dead and 19 others injured as floods ravaged more villages in Safana, Kurfi and Batsari local government areas of Katsina State while many more have been reported missing in Adamawa State, Daily Trust can report.
In Katsina State, for example, three persons lost their lives in Runka village of Safana, two in Dankunde and Mai’Adua towns while the other died in Fadumawa village of Kurfi local government area.
Daily Trust gathered that 543houses were also destroyed in the three affected local government areas. The affected villages include Runka and Illela in Safana local government; Dadinkowa, Tsabawa and Shirgi in Batsari; Kurfi and Faduma villages in Kurfi local government.
Chairman, caretaker committee of Mai’Adua local government, Engineer Abba Yusuf, said two people died in Dankunde and Mai’Adua, while two women injured in Mai’Adua local government area.
Yusuf said Mai’Adua disaster was caused by over flooding of Tafkin-Bauna, saying “if this dam can be controlled, people of Gwajo-Gwajo village will be protected from experiencing future flood. We have concluded arrangement to tackle the problem once and for ever.”
And in Adamawa, more communities are still being affected by floods following continued release of water from the Lagdo Dam in northern Cameroun. Already, no fewer than 126 settlements have been submerged in the riverine areas, displacing several families with many missing.
Worst-hit areas are Fufore, Girei, Yola South, Yola North, Demsa, Numan, Lamorde, Shelleng, Michika, Guyuk and Ganye local governments. The flooding, it was learnt, occurred at night while victims were asleep.
It was also learnt that the Cameroonian authorities had issued notices on the impending release of water from the Lagdo Dam in compliance with the terms of a bilateral agreement with Nigeria since the spill-over from the dam flows into the Benue River which runs through Adamawa, Benue and other states.
Adamawa government lso set up a quick response committee headed by the secretary to the state government, Mr. Kobis Aris, who told reporters that the state “is in disaster” by the ever increasing volume of water being released from Lagdo dam.
Secretary of the Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Mr. Shedrack Barub, also confirmed that the agency had recorded 10 deaths, though rescuers and other health officials recorded 15.
In Calabar in Cross River State, a residential building has been destroyed and many tenants injured in the process following last weekend heavy rain storm.
The building was located on Stream Road near Edim Otop in Calabar Municipality Local Council because it was located on the edge of a ravine.
The affected tenants were rushed to the nearby hospital having sustained several degrees of injuries as a result of the collapse of the building.
Daily Trust findings also showed that those that did not sustain any injuries have also been evacuated to a safe place.
And in Niger, the state Disaster Management Agency has concluded arrangement to commence the assessment exercise of the areas affected by flood in the state with view to providing relief materials to the affected communities.
Source: All Africa
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