Flash floods in Nigeria kill at least 14
Pastor Dale Morgan
Flash floods in Nigeria kill at least 14*
From correspondents in Jos
August 08, 2007 04:59am
Article from: Reuters
AT least 14 people have been killed and thousands of families forced to
leave their homes by flash floods sweeping the central Nigerian state of
Plateau, the Red Cross said overnight.
The flooding, which began on Monday, followed a heavy downpour which
made a river break its banks, washing away buildings, livestock and
crops in the remote farming districts of Kanam, Wase and Langtang North,
officials said.
"Fourteen people were confirmed dead, some people are still missing,
while five were injured, and 7000 have been displaced in the three
areas," a Red Cross official said.
One local official said 16 people were killed in the district of Wase
alone, while local sources said seven had died in Langtang North and
three in Kanam.
Hundreds of people have taken refuge in an emergency camp set up by the
local authorities, while scores have taken shelter with friends and
relatives.
Heavy rain has caused flooding in several parts of Africa's most
populous country, but the disaster in Plateau is the worst.
Thousands of families have been driven from their homes in parts of
Nigeria's biggest city and commercial capital Lagos by flooding caused
by days of heavy rain, which caused another river to overflow.