Zamfara flood kills 24, washes out 400 houses; 2,000 homeless

No fewer than 24 people were reported to have lost their lives in Gusau, capital of Zamfara State, following a downpour, which many people described as a calamity beyond human imagination.
Also, property worth millions of naira were destroyed, including food items and domestic animals.
The rain, which lasted about seven hours, also washed away over 400 houses, submerged a number of culverts and uprooted many shops and kiosks erected in some major streets.
At press time, over 2,000 people had been rendered homeless, with the victims taking refuge at some government quarters across the town.
Five among the dead were female, while the remaining were male, including children, whose ages ranged from four to five.
Trapped while asleep
Eyewitness account said some of those who died in the calamity were trapped in their rooms, while sleeping, as the rain started very late.
The remaining, according to the eyewitness, who sought anonymity, drowned in the flood water, despite screaming for help, which they did not get because every other person was struggling to survive.
The State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, Chairman, Engr. Sanusi Kwatorkoshi, could not be reached for comment on the issue as he was said to have left the state capital for Mecca.
The areas mostly affected were Birnin Ruwa, Sabon Fegi, Filin Gunza and Tudun Wada.
Other areas also affected include Sabon Gari, Hayin Danhausa, Tudun Kosau and Hayin Malam Sani, which lost nine of their residents, four vehicles and nine motorcycles.