BEVERLY HILLS, July 16, (THEWILL) – Heavy downpour that lasted hours into the early morning of Monday in Katsina state has killed not fewer than 44 persons while dozens have been declared missing.
Also, over 500 houses were destroyed
in 10 communities in Jibia Local Government Area of the state as the downpour which started at about 11pm on Sunday night also claimed lives of about 260 livestock and destroyed farmlands in the area.
Aminu Masari, Governor of the state, made this known after inspecting the affected areas in the local government.
“I can say that I have never seen this kind of disaster in my life. The water level is above 10 feet height and it is a purely a natural disaster as the government had constructed drainages that were emptying into Jibia river,” he said.
“The water from the river moved in a reverse order and come back to the town and caused the flooding. I saw a groom of three days old who lost his bride and still searching for her.”
The governor said his administration had already relocated the victims to a primary school in the area.
He also explained that he had informed the federal government about the disaster, saying NEMA had already brought 13 trucks loaded with relief materials for distribution to the victims.
The governor said he had directed the state ministry of environment to look into the possibility of diverting the water from direct contact with the river.
The communities badly affected include, Kwata, Dantudu, Sabuwar, Tukare, Tsohuwar Tukare and Ungwar Mai Kwari.
The failure of the rain to stop on time caused the river channels in the affected villages to overflow their banks, killing many residents and sweeping away several vehicles, motorcycles and farmlands, in the process.
The disaster also sacked many residents from their homes and shops as their apartments were flooded.
The incident occurred less than three weeks after President Muhammadu Buhari visited Katsina, his home-state to commiserate with the victims and families of those affected by an earlier rainstorm.
