Flood Situation Worsens in Adamawa as 15 Bodies Wash Ashore.

The flood situation in Adamawa State worsened on Monday with the death toll in the disaster increasing as 15 bodies washed ashore the River Benue bank, in Jimeta—Yola, just as the state government commenced immediate evacuation of the communities along the bank of the River Benue across seven local government areas of the state.

Adamawa State Secretary to Government, Chief Kobis Ari Thinmnu, told journalists on Monday that the state government was having serious crisis coping with the situation, as over 45 communities have been totally submerged.

He appealed to the federal government through the National Emergency Management Agency to come to the immediate assistance of the Adamawa people, as the disaster was beyond the scope of the state government.

Thinmnu said that it was unfortunate, that Nigeria has no bilateral protocol with the republic of Cameroom on the usage of the waters of Lagdo dam, adding that, the release of water by the dam authorities, every rainy season, has always caused enormous damage to the people of the state.

He appealed to the federal government to approach the Cameroonian authorities so that modalities could be worked out, to remedy disaster situations, as the people of the state are always on the receiving end.

He stressed that over N100million worth of properties have been lost to the current disaster, adding, that at leat 60 buildings had been reported to have collapsed in one local government alone. Other properties lost to the disaster included farms and livestock.

In the meantime, the Adamawa State government, at the weekend, set-up a disaster management committee, to manage the situation as the water level continues to rise.

The principal medical officer in charge of the Yola Specialist Hospital, Dr Bala Saidu, told THISDAY, that some victims of the flood were brought to the hospital's mortuary. He said it would be difficult to give an exact number of bodies so far recovered, because it was rising as the situation worsens.

He however said as at the weekend, 15 corpses were deposited at the hospital.

Monday 27 August 2012

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