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Scores Dead, Thousands Homeless In Nigerian Dam Tragedy
Kano (AFP) Oct 1, 2006 At least 40 people were killed and 1,000 displaced when a dam collapsed near Gusau, capital of northern Nigerian Zamfara State due to torrential rains, a government spokesman said Sunday. Ibrahim Birnin-Magaji said disaster struck on the outskirts of Gusau in the early hours of Saturday, sweeping away hundreds of houses and drowning at least 40 people. "There was an unprecedented torrential downpour in Gusau which started Friday night through Saturday as a result of which the dam burst and swept away no less than 500 houses, killing at least 40 people," he said. "It was the heaviest downpour recorded here which was accompanied by strong wind. The flood has caused colossal damage. It is a kind of tsunami to us," he said. Rescuers were continuing to recover more bodies. "Apart from the lives lost and the houses destroyed, the flood has inundated a large swathe of farmland that are almost due for harvest and killed hundreds of livestock," Birnin Magaji said. He said those displaced by the flood were accommodated in a secondary school while a headcount of the affected households was going on to ascertain the exact number of casualties. "The figure of the dead is not conclusive because a headcount of affected households has commenced and when the headcount is completed we will have a final figure of those killed in the flood," Birnin-Magaji said. The spokesman said the bridge linking Gusau with the northern part of the state also collapsed as a result of the flood. Governor Ahmed Sani who visited the scene on Saturday requested the assistance of the central government to help the disaster victims.
Source: Agence France-Presse Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links Out Of Africa Africa News - Resources, Health, Food
Rains Ease Killer Kenyan Drought But Millions Still In Need
Nairobi (AFP) Sep 27, 2006Seasonal rains have eased a searing killer drought in Kenya but some three million people still need food aid and urgent funds are required to help them, the United Nations said Wednesday. It said February to June "long rains" in the drought-stricken north had reduced from 3.5 million the number of people in need but appealed for 44 million dollars (35 million euros) to assist others for the next six months. |
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