The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has revealed that over 400,000 households have been displaced due to the flood in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital.
The flood in Borno’s capital occurred as a result of heavy rain which led to the overflow of the Alau Dam on the Ngadda River.
NEMA Director of Planning and Research and Forecasting, Onimode Bandele, disclosed this on Thursday during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief while giving an update on the impact of the flood.
“As of this morning over 400,000 households are being held in night camps and the search and rescue effort is ongoing,” said.
The director also mentioned that he was unable to ascertain the exact number of deaths and fatalities, as a result of the possibility of the flood bringing back buried bodies.
Based on the report he received from the Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), he added that four body bags had been retrieved.
“Concerning fatalities, I spoke with the Zonal Coordinator in Maiduguri and the DG of SEMA in Borno State who confirmed that he collected 4 body bags to be used for people who died. So there are still conflicting reports of the fatalities because some people claim that the flood that occurred exhumed some bodies from burial sites, that way we cannot confirm until the water recedes very well,” he said.
He noted that the number of displaced camps has increased from 4 to 9
“As at the onset of the incident, we had 4 camps but as of yesterday these camps have increased to 9 to accommodate the evacuated populations,” Bandele said.
People Trapped On Rooftops
In line with the videos making rounds on social media, Bandele confirmed that up till now there are still several people that are yet to be rescued from rooftops.
He also pointed out that currently several people are still trapped in DSS quarters and 505 housing estate
“The latest report we got this morning was that the people who live at 505 and DSS quarters are still trapped, so efforts are ongoing to get the people out.
“Unfortunately that is the situation for now, and unfortunately, the people on the rooftop, but efforts are ongoing so that the Search and Rescue team with the support of the Disaster Response Unit can get to those people and evacuate them to safety,” he added.
Speaking on the ongoing rescue plans, he disclosed that the military are currently using trucks to rescue victims, noting that the NEMA helicopter is currently unavailable.
“What we are doing with the military is the use of heavy equipment such as trucks to get the people who are stranded to safe haven.
“NEMA has called for more reinforcement of local divers, we have had to mobilize resources like engine boats from the neighbouring state of Yobe.”
He affirmed that the government are currently deploying food and medical aid to the evacuated population.
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