admincounted 28 bodies and many people are still missing after the flood,” said Kemi Nshe, local government chairman for the Shendam district in central Nigeria’s Plateau state.
He said the rains, the worst of which occurred on Sunday, displaced close to 1 500 people.
A Red Cross official in the area said relief workers were having difficulties accessing flooded areas, which he said included around five communities.
He said heavy rain began Saturday night and continued into Sunday.
“Flooding has affected close to five (districts), and a lot of bridges have been broken, a lot of people have lost their houses,” said Manasseh Panpe.
He said a Red Cross team was able to visit one displaced camp so far where more than 200 people had relocated to.
“They need blankets,” said Panpe. “They need food and water.”
Last month in another area of Plateau state, heavy rainfall forced a dam to overflow, causing flooding that left at least 35 people dead and destroyed or damaged some 200 homes.
Much of Nigeria has been affected by heavy seasonal rainfall, and officials have warned more flooding is likely to occur in a number of areas in the coming days.
The rainy season typically runs from March to September. — AFP.
Online Reporter