Kano State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has confirmed 624 houses destroyed by flood in four local government areas of the state in two weeks.
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Dr Sale Jili, Executive Secretary of the Agency, confirmed the incident in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Kano.
NAN recalled that the agency had earlier confirmed four persons killed and over 5, 200 houses destroyed due to flooding in Rogo and Danbatta Local Government Areas of the state.
NAN also reports that the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted flooding occasioned by heavy rainfall in 20 Local Government Areas of the state.
Jili listed the affected areas to include Gabasawa, Minjibir, Kura and Warawa Local Government Areas.
“We deployed assessment teams to the affected areas. We have taken rapid prompt response after which the victims would be given relief materials ranging from food items and building materials.
“The affected areas have been visited to sympathise with the victims over the disaster.
“There are reports of flooding in the 44 LGAs of the state due to heavy rainfall this season,’’ he said.
He noted that some of the displaced persons are taking shelter with their relatives within the communities.
Meanwhile, the executive secretary added that in the month of August, 147 houses were destroyed in Garko Local Government Area of the state.
“The agency received 35 individual cases of lost of property by flood reported directly to SEMA. 24,920 flood, windstorm and rainstorm victims were affected from June to date.
“25 persons were killed as a result of flood from various local government areas and several hundreds injured,’’ he said.
Jili called on wealthy individuals, donor agencies to assist the government by supporting the victims, adding that members of the community should also assist the government in clearing their water ways.
He commended National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Presidential Task Force Committee on Rehabilitation and Relief for their support and urged them to continue in assisting the victims through the agency.
The executive secretary also called on residents close to rivers and ponds in the state to vacate the flood prone areas for now, as their safety cannot be guaranteed.
“We will continue to monitor, supervise what is happening and report back to the state government as at when due,’’ he said.
He, however, warned communities in flood prone areas to desist from dumping refuse in water ways to avert flooding.
“Right use of qualitative materials in building or roofing houses should and must be adopted to prevent flood and windstorm,’’ Jili added.