Eight persons have been confirmed dead while scores of others missing after a flood tore through several communities in Nasarawa State, officials said yesterday.
The deluge, following a heavy downpour on Monday, destroyed bridges, houses and other property worth millions of Naira in Keffi, Obi and Keana Local Government Areas.
The state’s emergency management agency had warned residents against erecting structures on the waterways to avert flood.
The agency’s Executive Secretary, Zakaria Zamani Alumaga, who confirmed the incident while inspecting areas affected by the flood in Keffi yesterday, listed the collapsed structures to include a bridge connecting Agwatashi and Agaza communities, and Antau Bridge, close to the popular Me & You joint, along Keffi-Abuja highway.
He said the visit was to ascertain the level of destruction and take drastic measures against future occurrences.
The downpour occurred on Monday but our correspondent observed that several houses were still underwater as at yesterday.
It was also observed that hundreds of commuters travelling on the Keffi-Abuja highway were trapped for several hours.
The state’s Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Musa Ibrahim, warned residents against indiscriminate construction of house and dumping of refuse.
