At least 52 people have died and 20 are still missing after heavy rains caused severe floods in Nigeria’s northern state of Katsina over the past few days, local officials confirmed Wednesday, July 18, 2018. In the country’s south, heavy rains in the state of Ogun claimed lives of 11 people. More than 500 houses were destroyed by the flood in Katsina State, Aminu Waziri, head of the State Emergency Management Agency said today. At least 52 people have died, 27 were injured, 20 are missing and at least 5 000 are displaced.
Following the heavy rainfall on Saturday, July 15, water from the main river in the area moved in a reverse direction and came back to Jibia town, causing the flooding, state governor Aminu Masari said. Five villages in Jibia district were affected by the flood. “This is the worst natural disaster I have ever witnessed in my life. I believe this is the worst ever seen in the state,” the governor said. “The devastation caused by the heavy rains (and) flood at Kukan Danmaciji of Jibia LGA is indeed enormously overwhelming and heartbreaking.” READ MORE
