12 injured, properties destroyed as flood hits Potiskum, Nangere communities
Story from Omale John ACHIMUGU, Damaturu
No fewer than 12 people have been injured, and dozens of houses and properties destroyed as a result of heavy rainfall that caused flooding in the Potiskum and Nangere communities of Yobe State.
The rain started at about 11:45 am on Monday till about 2:30 pm causing victims to flee their homes to neighbouring houses for safety and shelter.
Areas of the town that were worst hit are Tandari, Nahuta, Bahbut, Ramin Kasa, Arikime, Gishiwa Dabuwa and Kanda village of Nangere LGA, where buildings and other structures were pulled down, causing injuries to people and roads covered with water.
Although there was no confirmation of loss of lives, some sources said many people were badly injured while businesses worth millions of Naira were destroyed.
Speaking with newsmen, the team lead of representatives from Yobe State Emergency Management Agency (YOSEMA), Ahmed Haruna Daya, said the level of devastation in the disaster was alarming.
Ahmed Haruna Daya also said, immediately his team swung into action, identifying the affected people that needed emergency medical attention.
He said, presently, 12 victims were identified and are receiving emergency treatment at the Potiskum Specialist Hospital but one of them, Adamu Musa, a 10-year-old boy who had a fracture as a result of a building that collapsed on him, was referred to the Yobe State Teaching Hospital in Damaturu, the Yobe State Capital.
Ahmed explained that some of the victims that started treating themselves before they were identified, were refunded back their money and the treatment process continued from where they stopped.
He said the next phase of their action would be profiling which includes the assessment and validation of houses and properties destroyed followed by the distribution of relief materials.
One of the residents of Bahbut who pleaded anonymity said, there is more than 2000 household in the community and their major problem is lack of drainage.
He appealed to the government and relevant stakeholders to come to their aid.
Malam Idriss Mamuda a resident of Gishiwa Dabuwa stated that what happened was natural and could not have been otherwise but if there was a functional drainage system that the water can easily pass through, the damage wouldn’t have been this worst.
Malam Idriss also called on the government to construct drainages where there are none and make sure that measures are put in place and prosecute those who are blocking waterways as well as turning drainage into a place of dumping refuse.
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