The State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has reported that flood destroyed at least 700 houses and farmlands in the Cheledi community in the Kirfi Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

The Director, Planning, Research and Statistics of the agency, Adamu Nayola, said this in an interview on Monday in Bauchi.

Mr Nayola said the affected houses and farmlands were destroyed when the rivers in the area overflowed their banks in the wake of a heavy downpour.

He said, “More than 700 houses and farmlands were destroyed in the Cheledi community, with rice, maize, sorghum, millet, sesame seeds, and cowpea destroyed.’’

He described the incident as devastating and the worst to happen in the state this year.

According to Mr Nayola, the flood rendered many community residents homeless.

He said the Commissioners for Humanitarian Affairs, Housing, and Environment had visited the area to assess the degree of damage.

“They assessed the level of damage caused by the flood in all the affected areas and provided necessary assistance to the victims,” the SEMA official said.

He also said most of the affected villages were on the bank of the stream.

Mr Nayola said the agency was conducting an enumeration of the affected houses and farmlands to provide relief materials.

He advised the public to avoid flood-prone areas, blocking waterways with buildings to avert flooding. 

(NAN)