Residents in Gummi town, the headquarters of Gummi Local Government Area of Zamfara state are still counting losses after a heavy downpour pulled down many residential houses last week.
It took about 17 hours before the rainfall ceased.
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Water flooded many residential houses killing three persons injuring dozens of others. Dozens of domestic animals were also killed in the disaster.
A resident, Lawali Usman, whose house has been completely destroyed said he was still in shock and struggling to find a shelter for his family.
He said he was presently temporarily taking shelter in an uncompleted building.
“It was heavily raining at that time and it was around 2 a.m. then.
“I noticed some soil particles falling from the woods we put to support the shaky structure.
“I woke my wife up and advised her to quickly moved our children out of the room.
“No sooner she did that the entire structure collapsed with most of our belongings destroyed.
“Even before we finished parking what remained inside our rooms, floodwater had already begun flowing into our rooms, ” Usman added.
Another resident, Aliyu Hassan, said his flock of sheep and that of his wife were hit hard by the torrential rainfall.
Most of the sheep were found dead with some washed away by the flowing waters.
“The disaster had really taken its toll on us.
“Many people are battling to get shelter.
“You know the rainy season is approaching its peak period.
“Our fear is that the rainfall may get heavier, more excessive in the coming days,” he added.
Earlier, the National Emergency Management Agency warned of the impending disaster.
The Agency sensitised residents in the state on how best to avert possible flood disaster.
The Agency had earlier warned of impending floods in seven local government areas of the state.
Even though Gummi was not among the local government areas listed. The disaster had already hit Zurmi, Gusau, Bungudu, and some parts of Kaura Namoda Local Government Areas with a resultant loss of property.
According to the Agency, this year’s annual flood outlook has predicted the highly probable flood risk areas in Zamfara State to include Bakura, Maradun, Shinkafi and Zurmi Local Government Areas; while the probable flood risk areas are Tsafe, Birnin-Magaji/Kiyawa and Gusau North Local Government Areas.
