TheNewsGuru

Tag: Flood

  • Flood wrecks havoc in Yobe communities, seven killed

    Flood wrecks havoc in Yobe communities, seven killed

    No fewer than 450 households were affected by a recent flood that ravaged several communities in Yobe State, authorities have said.

    The flooding was triggered by a downpour that lasted several hours on Sunday.

    According to reports, at least seven persons died from the incident.

    Among those who suffered heavy losses was Falmata Ali, whose two children drowned while sleeping.

    The sobbing mother called on the relevant authorities to provide a permanent solution to the flood that has become an annual episode in the state.

    Some of the communities worst hit by the flood are Tandari, Yindiski, Dadin Kowa, Gadan Talaka, Maisandari, Usmanti, Gaurawa, Kasaisa, Abari, and Nayinawa.

    All persons killed by the flood were residents of Potiskum Local Government Area (LGA) where at least 250 households were affected.

    While about 249 households were also affected in Nguru LGA, authorities have yet to ascertain the number of those affected in communities in Damaturu, the state capital.

    According to the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs in Yobe, Garba Iliya, the state government has directed the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to assess and respond to the plight of the victims.

  • Bauchi flood death toll rises to 13, farms, houses submerged

    Bauchi flood death toll rises to 13, farms, houses submerged

    The number of people killed by flood across Bauchi State since the 2021 rainy season began has increased to 13 following five new recorded deaths in Jama’are Local Government Area.

    It was learnt that no fewer than 24 people sustained varying degrees of injury in the floods that have so far affected 18 LGAs of the state.

    Information gathered from an official of the State Emergency Management Agency in Bauchi State, who declined identification, showed that five people died in Jama’are, three in Gamawa, three in Ningi while one person each died in Toro and Darazo LGAs.

    The SEMA official noted that the floods submerged over 1,600 houses.

    He said, “Initially, it was reported that eight people died but now, we heard that five more people died in Jama’are.

    “Also, 24 people were injured, some were treated and discharged while few are still receiving treatment.

    “From available records, properties worth millions of naira and over 1,600 houses were destroyed, while over 5,000 farmlands were also washed away.”

    Meanwhile, the Chairman, Jama’are LGA, Samaila Jarma, in a chat with Punch, said that five people died in the LGA.

    He added that over 1,000 hectares of rice, maize, wheat and beans farmlands were destroyed adding that more than 1,000 houses were damaged.

    Jarma said, “Two persons died initially, but we later recovered three corpses, making a total of five.”

     

  • Residents flee as erosion sweeps homes into river in Bayelsa

    Residents flee as erosion sweeps homes into river in Bayelsa

    Five buildings and other property in Obogoro Town in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa have been swept into Ikoli River following a landslide arising from coastal erosion.

    The incident which took place late Sunday night has displaced many locals, as scores of residents were seen fleeing from the ravaging disaster.

    Meanwhile, the residents have appealed to the Bayelsa and Federal Governments to urgently come to their rescue and tackle the menace.

    Ada Gwegwe, a frontline activist in the Save Obogoro Campaign, says the rampaging waters from the river is threatening the entire town.

    Residents, fearful for their lives, are packing their valuables and abandoning their homes because of the rampaging coastal erosion in the area.

    Gwegwe called on the relevant authorities and NGOs to come to their aid, stressing that the town might soon become history if urgent and proper measures were not taken.

    A journalist with Nigerian Pilot, Miss Eunice Nnachi, said previous promises by relevant authorities had remained unfulfilled, nothing that residents lived in palpable fears.

    She said in May this year Gov. Douye Diri, after inspecting St. John’s Primary School, Ogbogoro, which was washed away by the erosion, directed the commissioners for Works and Infrastructure and that of Environment to canalize the river at Obogoro community in other to salvage the situation.

    Nnachi said nothing had been done in that regard.

    An Obogoro chief, Richard Somkume, has appealed to the state and Federal Governments to expedite action to save the community from extinct.

    Obogoro Community Secretary Pulu Yogoi has noted that as the peak of the rainy season approaches, with impending floods, there is a looming danger if nothing is done urgently.

    He said in the past the community had experienced severe landslides that washed the NYSC lodge, the community primary school and football field into the Ikoli River.

    “Farmlands with crops worth millions of naira have not been spared as the economic livelihood of the people have also been lost to the menace.

    “St. Paul’s Primary School, located in Famgbe, a neighbouring community that would have served as an alternative for the pupils has long been washed into the river with children from Obogoro forced to travel far to acquire basic education,” he said.

  • Flood kills 26, destroy 1,000 houses in Kano State

    Flood kills 26, destroy 1,000 houses in Kano State

    The Kano State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) said on Friday that flood killed 26 people and destroyed over 1,000 houses in four Local Government Areas of the state from April to date.

    The Executive Secretary, Kano SEMA, Dr Saleh Jili, who confirmed the figures in an interview in Kano, said that 50 other persons sustained injuries due to the the flood and windstorm.

    According to him, the affected local government areas are Bunkure, Minjibir, Tarauni and Doguwa.

    He said that the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet) had earlier predicted that there would be flooding in 25 local government areas of the state this year.

    The SEMA boss said the agency had visited the affected areas to sympathise with the victims on behalf of state government and distributed relief materials to them to alleviate their suffering.

    “The items distributed included bags of cement, bags of rice, maize, millet, roofing sheets and toiletries,’’ he said.

    The executive secretary, however, commended Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje and the state Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr Muntari Ishaq, for supporting the agency.

    He called on donor agencies and wealthy individuals to assist in supporting the victims.

    “Our economy is down due to COVID-19; the government cannot do it alone,’’ he said.

    Jili also called on those living close to rivers and ponds in the state to vacate the areas for one to two months period.

    “If the rivers and ponds are over filled with water, please vacate your houses,’’ the SEMA boss advised.

    He further urged residents of the state to clear the drains in front of their houses to prevent flooding.

    “I urge those who are not yet affected by the flood to do everything possible to prevent it by clearing their drainages, collecing refuge and taking it to the appropriate place,’’ he said.

    Jili added that the agency would not relent in its effort to ensure protection of lives and properties.

  • Flood: Five simple ways to get your submerged vehicle back on the road

    Flood: Five simple ways to get your submerged vehicle back on the road

    The nook and cranny of Lagos State on Friday (yesterday) witnessed the downpour of a torrential rainfall like never before.

    The rain that lasted hours especially in the Lagos Island area left most roads flooded while workers were stranded as they were unable to access their vehicles after the close of work in several parking lots along the Marina axis of Lagos. Most of the vehicles were entirely submerged in the flood.

    While this is not the first time that Lagos is witnessing such flood, however, that of Friday took it to a different level especially with damages that might ruin a car owner if the needful is not down.

    To minimize damages done particularly to submerged vehicles, an auto expert listed a five-step actionable points to help revive submerged vehicle back to life.

    Meanwhile some of the actionable points as listed below might need the assistant/supervision of a certified mechanic.

    1. Do not attempt to start your submerged vehicle

    Even if the vehicle is submerged and the water goes down. It’s likely water has made its way into the engine.

    The first thing to do is open your engine air filter and check for moisture. If it’s moist or damp, DO NOT CRANK THAT VEHICLE!!! DO NOT ATTEMPT TO START IT.

    2. Drain engine oil

    Allow the water go down, tow it away if possible. Get your mechanic to drain the engine oil immediately. Also drain the transmission fluid. Do not take the risk of trying to drive that vehicle.

    3. Disconnect fuel pump

    Let the mechanic disconnect the fuel sending unit (fuel pump), pull out the spark plugs one after the other and then crank the engine. You want to make sure water in each cylinder is blown out of the engine by the compression/exhaust stroke.

    4. Connect fuel pump

    Once completed for all the cylinders. Connect the fuel pump (easiest way is to remove the relay or the fuse) and start the vehicle. It may idle rough. Leave it. Do not rev it. Allow that vehicle idle for some 30 minutes.

    5. Engage the gears

    Once it’s up to operating temperature, (because you have replaced your transmission fluid) engage the gears one after the other. From P to R wait 5 seconds R to N wait another 5 seconds N to D wait again. D to N again N to R and R to Park. After this. You can drive.

     

  • Watch rare videos of cars ‘swimming’ in Lagos today

    Watch rare videos of cars ‘swimming’ in Lagos today

    Parts of Lagos State, especially parts of Lagos Island were flooded with water, leaving cars submerged and passengers stranded on Friday.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports this has prompted the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to issue an advisory, urging residents of the State to observe safety precautions during downpours.

    Especially, residents of Lagos Island, Eti-Osa, Alimosho, Amuwo Odofin, Ikeja, Ojo, Kosofe, Apapa, Epe, Oshodi-Isolo, Shomolu, Surulere and Ajeromi /Ifelodun LGAs have been advised to be more careful.

    Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, Acting Assistant Zonal Coordinator, South West Zonal Office, NEMA gave the advice in a statement on Friday in Lagos.

    According to him, the residents should avoid driving when flood covers half of vehicles’ tyres. He also advised that trekking should be avoided during downpours.

    “Once the rainwater gets to half of the wheels it sweeps off your vehicle. Kindly park and move on to higher ground for safety.

    “When the rainwater must have risen above our ankles; once it happens like this, the flood has the capacity to carry us off,” Farinloye said.

    He advised teachers to keep pupils in classrooms during downpours, no matter the duration, to safeguard their lives.

    The NEMA boss warned people living in buildings with signs of danger to report to the appropriate agencies for assistance.

    “Residents of Lagos Island, Eti-Osa, Alimosho, Amuwo Odofin, Ikeja, Ojo, Kosofe, Apapa, Epe, Oshodi-Isolo, Shomolu, Surulere and Ajeromi /Ifelodun LGAs are advised to be more careful when it rains.

    “The 2021 Annual Flood Outlook has predicted more flooding to be experienced in these 13 local government areas.

    “Anyone in need of emergency assistance should call 08067715203, 07066836580 for prompt response, in addition to 112 and 767 for immediate assistance,” Farinloye said.

    Watch rare videos of cars ‘swimming’ in Lagos today:

  • What caused flood to submerge over 300 buildings in Taraba – NIHSA

    What caused flood to submerge over 300 buildings in Taraba – NIHSA

    The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) has clarified on what caused flood to submerge over 300 buildings in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports no fewer than 300 buildings were submerged in a flood that ravaged several communities in Jalingo on Saturday.

    While no lives were lost, residents watched helplessly as their business centres, vehicles, worship centres and schools were submerged by the flood.

    Earlier reports had it that the flood was aggravated by the release of water from the Cameroonian Lagdo Dam built within the Cameroonian portion of River Benue.

    However, according to the NIHSA, the flash flood was caused by localized heavy downpour that occurred from the night of Friday, 9th July till around 4 am on Saturday, 10th July, 2021 in Mayo Goi area of Jalingo town.

    Report from the NIHSA Yola Office stated that poor or lack of drainage systems, buildings erected within the flood paths, etc, aggravated the flood, and not release of any water from Lagdo Dam in Cameroon.

    “It should be noted that at this period of the year, impoundment of water into the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon for hydropower generation is still in progress.

    “Under normal circumstances, it is usually around the 3rd week of September that the Lagdo Dam reservoir approaches an elevation of 213m.

    “Spillage of water can only take place once the reservoir level approaches 216m. Therefore, no release of water from Lagdo Dam ever took place.

    “For purposes of clarity, it should be noted that Jalingo in Taraba State is downstream Adamawa State.

    “Before any flood arising from the release of water from Lagdo Dam could submerge any town in Taraba State, the following towns in Adamawa State, upstream Taraba State, would have been submerged, namely:- Wuroboki, Lau, Jimeta, Ibbi, Numan, Yola, etc, all in Adamawa State,” NIHSA stated.

    TNG reports the NIHSA is the agency of the Federal Government at the upstream sector in the prediction and issuance of flood early warning alerts in Nigeria.

    The agency had earlier in the year predicted that Yorro, Gassol, Ardo-Kola, Lau, Jalingo, Wukari, all in Taraba State, fall within the Highly Probable Flood Risk LGAs in the country in 2021.

    This was contained in the Agency’s 2021 Annual Flood Outlook (2021 AFO) publication which was presented to the general public on the 6th of May, 2021, by the Minister of Water Resources, Engr Suleiman H. Adamu.

    “The public presentation was followed up with letters to all the Governors of the 36 states of the Federation and the Honourable Minister of the FCTA, intimating each of them on the specific LGAs in their states that are susceptible to flooding in the course of year 2021.

    “From the recent updates on 2021 Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), some parts of the country are already witnessing delayed onset of rainfall and there is a likelihood of early cessation of rainfall.

    “Under this climatic condition, there is the possibility of most parts of the country experiencing shorter period of rainy season.

    “Therefore, when the spread of rainfall is over a shorter period, there is the tendency to experience more flooding incidents in the event the rainfall within these few months is of high intensity,” the NIHSA stated.

  • FCDA opens up on what caused flooding of NASS Complex

    FCDA opens up on what caused flooding of NASS Complex

    …promises to renovate once contract is awarded

    The Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) has attributed the flooding of the National Assembly last Tuesday to water seepage due to the blockade of drainages.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) recalls that the National Assembly complex was flooded on Tuesday temporarily affecting legislative business.

    In a statement issued by the authority on Friday it said, “the recent flooding of the lobby of the National Assembly Complex, Abuja resulting from leakages from the roof. Our findings indicate that the leakages are traceable to blockages of drainages leading to seepage of water through expansion joints in the roof slab.

    Read statement below:

    RE: FLOODING OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY COMPLEX

    The attention of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) has been drawn to the recent flooding of the lobby of the National Assembly Complex, Abuja resulting from leakages from the roof. Our findings indicate that the leakages are traceable to blockages of drainages leading to seepage of water through expansion joints in the roof slab.

    2. Full waterproofing of the roof of the White House building is a major aspect of the proposed renovation of the National Assembly Complex.

    3. The Management of the National Assembly approached the FCDA in 2019 for a total rehabilitation and upgrading of the NASS Complex to bring it in tune with Parliamentary Buildings around the world.

    4. This contract is currently undergoing procurement process in line with the Procurement Act of 2007 and will therefore be awarded as soon as it is concluded in conformity with the requirements of the Act and also considering all other relevant parameters.

    5. The Authority (FCDA) therefore assures that when the time comes, this project will be executed meticulously in order to ensure that the Nation gets value for the funds that will be expended as this has been the tradition with every other assignment which the Authority has undertaken.

    Richard A. Nduul

    Head, Public Relations & Information, FCDA.

  • 24 Nigerian states to experience flood from Tuesday to Friday – GMFG

    24 Nigerian states to experience flood from Tuesday to Friday – GMFG

    The Flood Warning Central Hub of the Federal Ministry of Environment on Tuesday released a “flood prediction memo” which suggests that about flood prone communities in about twenty four (24) states in Nigeria will likely experience flood between Monday 14th to Friday 18th June.

    The predictions is as follows:
    – PLATEAU: Bokkos, Mangu, Jos
    – BAUCHI: Darazo, Yelwa
    – KADUNA: Kauru, Kaduna, Kachia, Kaura Namoda,Zaria, B/Gwari, Shanga
    – TARABA: Lau, Ibi, Jalingo, Wukari, Takum, Lau, Vande Ikiya, Mutum Biyu, Beli, Yorro
    – BENUE: Ito
    – ADAMAWA: Mubi, Serti
    – SOKOTO: Makira
    – IMO: Egbema
    – BAYELSA: Kolokuma/Opokuma, Ekeremor, Sagbama
    – ZAMFARA: Kaura Namoda, Maru, Gusau,Bungudu
    – KEBBI: Anka, Bagudu,Ribah,
    – NIGER: New Bussa, Bida, Rijau, Kontagora, Mashegu, Ibi
    – KATSINA: Bakori, Funtua, Gwarzo, Katsina, Jibia, Katsina
    – KANO: Karaye,
    – CROSS RIVER: Obubra, Ogoja, Ikom, Itigidi
    – GOMBE:Gombe
    – ADAMAWA: Mubi
    – KWARA: Kosubosu, Jebba,Wara
    – EBONYI:Afikpo,Echara – Onu Ebonyi
    – ENUGU:Ezilo
    – BORNO: Igumale
    – RIVERS: Okrika, Degema, Oporoma
    – DELTA:Bomadi, Patani

  • Delta State Govt warns residents of 16 LGAs of imminent flood

    Delta State Govt warns residents of 16 LGAs of imminent flood

    The Delta State Government has warned residents of 16 local government areas (LGAs) of the State, especially communities along the banks of the River Niger to be at alert to the likelihood of flooding this year.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the State Government issued the warning in a statement emanating from the office of the Secretary the State Government (SSG).

    The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) had announced that 28 States, including Delta and the federal capital territory (FCT) will most likely experience flooding this year.

    Similarly, the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET) in its 2021 seasonal climatic forecast had also observed that signals monitored by the agency indicate that the country is very likely to experience unprecedented heavy downpour.

    “Consequently, the State Government wishes to alert communities along the banks of the River Niger in the following local government areas of Oshimili South and North, Ndokwa East and West, Isoko North and South, Ughelli South, Burutu, Bomadi, Patani, Aniocha South, Sapele, Warri North and South, Warri South West and Udu of the likelihood of strong impact during the imminent flood,” the statement reads.

    Authorities of the local government councils, traditional rulers, community and opinion leaders have been advised to educate and advise their subjects to step up preparation against the flood prediction in order to reduce the level of destruction of lives and properties.

    “As a further cautionary measure the state government charges citizens and residents to avoid indiscriminate dumping of waste into drainage systems and natural waterways and to also avoid building on natural waterways,” the statement added.

    It also advised that people living on the banks of the River Niger should plan to relocate to higher grounds especially when the level of the river starts rising.