30 killed, Hundreds missing, houses submerged, as flood torments Niger communities
30 killed, Hundreds missing, houses submerged, as flood torment Niger communities
By Idun Maximus
At least 30 people have been reportedly killed with hundreds missing as flood ripped through three communities and submerged houses in Mokwa local government area of Niger state on Wednesday night
Scores were injured while over hundred other villagers were declared missing and houses and farm lands washed away even as the state emergency management agency intensified search and rescue operation.
The flood was said to have occurred after a torrential rain fall which lasted all through Wednesday night, leaving several houses submerged.
According to the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), over two hundred houses were affected in the deadly flood which the agency said was the highest in the state in recent time.
AbeyaNews reports that a similar flood disaster in the area last year, wrecked havoc, leaving over 50, including women and children dead while houses and farmlands were washed away.
According to a statement by NSEMA, the latest disaster occurred at Tiffin maza and Anguwan hausawa area in Mokwa town and other nearby communities.
“The incident occurred last night during a torrential downpour of very high intensity that lasted several hours, and the surging flood submerged and washed away over 50 residential houses with their occupants|”, the agency said in a statement by the Director General, Alhaji Mohammed Arah said.
He stated that the Agency in collaboration with Mokwa local government council, local divers and other volunteers are currently conducting search and rescue operation to rescue survivors and possibly dead ones.
The Director General disclosed further that as at 10am Thursday, only three survivors (a woman and her 2 children) have been rescued and are currently receiving treatment at the make-shift Mokwa general hospital, adding that 30 corpses have so far been recovered by the rescuers.
AbeyaNews reports that over hundred people are still unaccounted for but the rescue operation was still ongoing with the hope of recovering more bodies at the time of this report.
Meanwhile, the state government has condoled with the people of Mokwa local government over the unfortunate incident, describing as sad.
The Special Adviser on communication, media and strategy, Hon. Jonathan Vatsa in a statement said the disaster was a devastating one and therefore called on the federal government to come to the rescue of the state in other to reduce the sufferings of the affected people.
He equally sympathized with the families of those who lost their lives in the disaster even as he assured the people that the state government will come to their rescue in this hard and difficult moment.
