Many homeless as flood wreaks havoc in Kaduna

Torrential rain has rendered hundreds of people homeless in some suburbs in Kaduna state.

Many houses were submerged as a result of the downpour which started on Thursday evening and lasted till the early hours of Friday.

The communities worst hit by the disaster are Ungwa-Romi, Kigo road, Barnawa, Kudenda, Karatudu, Narayi, Ungwa- Rimi, Gonin-Gora, the Federal Cooperative School, Kawo, Ramat Road and Bachama Road.

The development made many people to take refuge in schools and and churches.

The flood happened days after warning about a possible flooding by the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and the Kaduna state Environmental Protection Authority (KEPA).

The two agencies had issued flood alert to residents, especially those residing along the Kaduna river and those near waterways.

The agencies repeatedly announced the warning on local radio stations in the city.

In some of the affected areas, residents were seen parking their belongings to residences of friends or relatives in other neighbourhood.

Some of the residents said they did not hear the warnings.

Timothy Audu, a victim of the flooding in Romi area, said he and his family were already asleep when water started gushing into his house.

“It was around 11:30pm, I heard some noise and I wanted to find out what was the cause of the noise, but as I stepped out of the bed, I stepped into the water,” he said.

“I managed to eveacuted my family to a friend’s house. My house was completely submerged, we lost everything as we could carry anything.”

Another victim who simply identified himself as Bulus said “local government officials came here about four days ago to give us a telephone number that we should call if there is any incident of flooding.

“We have been calling them since yesterday and they are yet to come here.”

She said despite the warning about the flood, they could not leave because they had no where to go.

Lamenting the incident, Yohanna Samson said “Since the rain was falling continuously we were afraid and could not sleep well. We were awake when at about 12 am the water started coming into my house.

“When I came outside everywhere was covered by water. We did not sleep at all. We have been packing our load since. Yesterday I took some to my brother’s house. Now we are still packing.”

Ben Kure, executive secretary of SEMA, attributed the situation to the flooding of the Kaduna river as well as blockage of drainage and waterways by residents and called on them to contribute to environmental safety to avoid such disasters.

He said his agency was taken steps to provide temporary accommodations to those affected by the disaster.

“Before now we sent warning signals which we announced on radio stations on a daily basis. We also embarked on enlightenment campaigns on radio and TV on the the possibility flood and we told those living at river banks and water ways to vacate,” he said.

“In our interaction with some of those affected, they told us that the flood occured every year and “one is wont to ask why they are still living in those places and endangering their lives.

“We visited Kawo, Ramat Road, Anguwan Rimi, Kigo Road, Gonin Gora, Karatudu, Bachama Road.

“We are working on providing temporary aboard to those affected. In Karatudu, classrooms in the secondary and primary school in the area had been given to the victims.

“We intend to provide mattresses and blankets. We are trying to take a head count of those affected and begin to make quick response.”