Flood washes bridge away in Kebbi

From Ismail Adebayo, Birnin Kebbi

A heavy rainfall that started on Thursday night and continued till Friday afternoon has led to the collapse of a bridge in Maiyama local government area of Kebbi state.

According to local account, the bridge, which links Mayalo, Sambawa, Gumbin-Kure, Uguwar Shuaibu, and Gandiji villages, collapsed on Friday due to continuous rainfall.

A resident said the bridge was a major transportation artery of the affected communities and its collapse has disrupted economic activities, social interactions, and access to essential services in the affected villages and their environs.

A local government official in the area told our correspondent that authorities have commenced emergency rescue operation.

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“They are already evacuating the stranded and displaced residents in the affected communities. They are also evaluating the extent of the damage.the brige collapse had caused”, he said.

The affected communities have called on government to expedite repairs and reconstruction of the bridge to restore connectivity and normalcy to their economic and social activities in the area.