Flood kills 49 in Katsina

…scores still missing as search continues

Flood occasioned by hours of heavy downpour has killed 49 persons mostly women and children in several communities of Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State. Over 20 are still missing.

Daily Trust reports that the four-hour rainfall, which lasted between 11pm on Sunday and 3am on Monday, destroyed over 500 houses, electrical installation and roads. 

Thousands of residents have been rendered homeless while many animals were also killed in the disaster. 

Most affected areas are those living in Unguwar Kwa-kwa, Unguwar Mai Kwari, Tudun Takari (both the new and old settlements) as well as Dan Tudu.

The Executive Secretary of the Katsina State Emergency Management Agency Dr Aminu Waziri said already 25 corpses had been buried, even as more bodies were being dug out from collapsed structures.

“We are expecting the figure to rise as search and rescue missions are ongoing in the town,” he said, adding that 24 corpses washed away to neighbouring villages of Mada Runfa and Kuntumi in Niger Republic were being repatriated for proper burial.

“We are presently resettling people at makeshift camps in schools and government is supplying food items and medicals to the affected,” Waziri said and called for support from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). 

“We reached out to them (NEMA) because of the devastating effect of the disaster. On our own we are also providing rice, maize, clothing to support them but the gravity of the damage is grave,” he added.

Victims recount ordeal

Some of the victims spoken to described their experiences as horrifying, adding that the memories will last forever.

Ibrahim LB, who lost a 12-year old girl Muhissiya, said “I was holding my other children while my wife was holding the hand of our daughter, the rain continued and the water level kept rising. 

“Right before my eyes, a forceful wave cuts in between my wife and daughter and that was the last I saw of my daughter. She was later removed from under the rubble dead,” he said.

Another victim, an elderly man Malam Ali, said he survived by holding on to a branch of tree. 

“I held on to it with all my life, and luckily it didn’t give away; I saw how the heavy water flow was carrying people and properties,” he said.

Bishir Falalau of Kukan Dan Maciji village said his house’s fence gave up less than an hour into the rain.

“I, my wife and two kids luckily escaped. We heard the sound of our fence collapsing, even though it was dark. I managed to get out of my house to my neighbour’s who lost three children in the flood.” 

Buhari Ashiru said since he moved into the town 15 years ago nothing of such had occurred.

“Water level in my house reached my neck, you can’t open the door because water has shut it, only our little windows were the outlets, it was horrifying experience that you don’t pray even for your enemy to witness.”

Masari weeps, promises assistance

Katsina State Governor Aminu Masari, who visited the affected communities, wept saying “I can say that I have never seen this kind of disaster in my life.” 

He said “The water level is above 10 feet high and it is a purely a natural disaster as the government had constructed drainages that were emptying into Jibia river.

“The water from the river moved in a reverse order and come back to the town and caused the flooding.

“I have seen a young groom of three days old who loss his bride and still searching for her.”

Masari, while commiserating with the victims, said he had since informed President Muhammadu Buhari of the happenings, adding that president directed NEMA to visit the area and see how it can support.

The governor said he has already ordered for the release of 13 trailer load of relief materials to the victims which was expected today.

He said the state ministry of environment had equally been directed to look at the possibility of diverting water flow into the community from the river.

The District Head of Jibia, Rabe Rabiu described the disaster as alarming and called for urgent attention for the surviving victims. 

The Katsina State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Wakili, has assured the community of the command’s readiness to ensure adequate security.

Meanwhile, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday reported Governor Masari as saying that the state government is working with the World Bank to spend N50 billion to tackle erosion, desertification and flooding in the state.

It said the money would be provided through the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP), adding that the World Bank would soon launch the project in the state.