49 Dead, Many Missing In Katsina Flood; 90 Houses destroyed

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49 Dead, Many Missing In Katsina Flood; 90 Houses destroyed

After a downpour that lasted hours Monday, no fewer than 49 persons have been confirmed killed, with dozens declared missing,

Over 90 houses were destroyed in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State alone.

The Executive Secretary, Katsina State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, Dr. Aminu Waziri, confirmed these to newsmen.  Waziri, who said his men were on search-and-rescue operation and assessment missions in the affected areas, had earlier said: “Over 38 were confirmed dead. Over 100 houses destroyed.”

The District Head of Jibia, Alhaji Rabe Rabi’u, had earlier confirmed about 25 persons dead, dozens declared missing, 90 houses destroyed, 260 livestock killed and farmlands submerged.

It was gathered that additional corpses were found near Niger Republic, where the flood dragged the lifeless bodies to.

Meanwhile, Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State visited the affected areas to sympathise with victims and assured them of urgent government’s intervention.

It was also gathered that persons who lost their lives in the disaster have since been buried according to Islamic rites.

Hours of down pour the downpour, which started at about 11p.m. on Sunday night and stopped around 1a.m. Monday, also claimed lives of about 260 livestock and destroyed farmlands in the area.