At least five persons were killed, and 3,813 houses were destroyed in 13 local government areas of Katsina this year, the State’s Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) said.

On Monday in Katsina, SEMA’s spokesperson, Umar Muhammad, told journalists the storms killed three of the five victims in the Kankara local government area and the other two in the Mai’adua area.

“In Kankara local government area, 176 houses were destroyed; 125 houses were destroyed in Danja local government area, and 86 were destroyed in Kankia local government area,” said the SEMA official. “In Katsina local government area, 620 houses were destroyed; in Musawa local government area, 482 houses were destroyed while 361 were destroyed in Batagarawa local government area.”

Mr Muhammad added, “In Kusada local government area, 311 houses were destroyed; in Sabuwa local government area, 111 houses were destroyed, while Zango local government area lost 105 houses.”

He also said 443 houses were lost in Batsari, while Funtua, Safana and Ingawa local government areas lost 258 houses, 581 houses and 154 houses, respectively.

He listed five other areas where rainstorms wreaked havoc as Mashi, Mani, Mai’adua, Dandume and Matazu.

“The state government is doing everything possible to prevent further flooding and has set up a committee to work toward preventing the cholera outbreak in affected communities,’’ Mr Muhammed explained.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) presented seven trucks of relief materials to Katsina State on September 1 for distribution to the affected areas.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar-Farouq, presented the materials, food items, clothing and building materials.

(NAN)