-Pix above: The collapsed building
Two persons have been reported dead and two others rescued alive after a two-storey building collapsed at Nomansland in Fagge Local Government Area of Kano State.
The incident occurred at about 2 a.m. on Thursday during a heavy downpour. Reports indicate that the building, situated near a waterway, collapsed due to flooding.
Saminu Yusif Abudullahi, the Public Relations Officer for the Kano State Fire Service, confirmed that two individuals were rescued and taken to the hospital, while two others were found dead. The rescue operation is still ongoing.
Before this incident, the Kano State Emergency Management Agency had said on Wednesday that 31 persons were killed and 5,280 houses destroyed by flooding in the state.
According to the Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency, Isyaku Kubarachi, the disaster had also led to the destruction of a total of 2, 518 farmlands, covering 976 hectares of land.
Kubarachi explained that the heavy rainfall, which caused the flood, was particularly severe and resulted in 135 people sustaining injuries as some mud houses collapsed on them.
He listed the affected local government areas as Wudil, Gwale, Nassarawa, Dala, Tarauni, Dawakin-Tofa, and Dambatta, among others.
The Executive Secretary said that the state government, under the leadership of Governor Abba Yusuf, took proactive measures before the rainy season to safeguard lives and properties.
“These included clearing blockages in drains and evacuation of refuse to ensure smooth water flow during the rainy season.
“Furthermore, SEMA and NEMA have assessed the damage in the affected areas and forwarded the necessary data to the government for necessary assistance.
“The state government is working on providing aid to all 21 local government areas affected by the flood and hopes for a positive outcome soon,” he said.
He disclosed that the National Emergency Management Agency has promised to assist in assessing the affected communities.
He, however, explained that affected individuals are currently squatting with their neighbours and there are no internally displaced persons camps in Kano state.
Recall that some affected individuals had expressed disappointment with the government’s response and made a passionate appeal to the state and federal governments for immediate assistance which is not forthcoming. agency///
