Tragedy struck in Jos, Plateau State capital, Sunday night, when a
rampaging flood swallowed over 35 people and also destroyed more than
200 houses. A 90-year-old woman and a three-month-old baby were among
the victims while more than 15 people have also been declared missing.
Heavy rainfall was reported to have forced a dam to overflow causing
flooding which submerged several houses, rendering many people homeless. Areas most affected were parts of Rukuba Road, Angwan Rogo, Angwan
Rukuba, Rikkos, Gangare and Farin Gada, among others. By yesterday
morning, about three cars were seen submerged in water below the Farin
Gada bridge……….continue
The torrential rain which started in the evening on Sunday continued
till past midnight making many rivers to overflow their banks.
The head of the Red Cross in the state, Manasie Phampe, said: “We
have recovered the bodies of 35 people that drowned in the overnight
flooding. About 200 homes have either been submerged or destroyed.
Rainwater and water from the Lamingo dam which overflowed swept across
several neighbourhoods in the city. We are still searching for more
bodies as many people have been declared missing.”
He confirmed that the victims so far included a 90-year-old woman and a three-month-old baby, adding that the toll could rise.
An official with National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) based in
Jos, Mr. Edward Maigida, said his staff were still trying to compile a
list of those missing or killed.
A community leader in Rikkos, Alhaji Abubakar Mahmud confirmed to
journalists that about 14 bodies were recovered yesterday morning and
were being prepared for burial. He also said that houses and other
property were destroyed in the disaster.
Already, NEMA in the state has deployed a rescue team to search for missing persons in the affected areas.
NEMA’s Director of Relief and Rehabilitation Maigida told journalists
yesterday that three camps for displaced persons had been set up by the
agency, adding that a census was on to determine the relief materials
to be taken to each camp.
Some residents spoken to said several highways were flooded making
them impassable and forcing many motorists to remain in the rain until
it subsided.
A lecturer in the University of Jos said he got home late as he could not drive through the water