7 May 2009
A downpour accompanied by strong wind killed one person and destroyed about 100 houses in Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State.
According to reports, the rain which started at about 2.30 p.m. on Monday and lasted for about six hours affected Dam-site, Gwamutsawa, Gangarawa, Unguwar-Mata, Kofar-Kudu and Kofargardi.
Some buildings affected included Intercontinental Bank, Oceanic Bank under construction and a parking lot for trucks.
Speaking, Chairman of the local government area, Alhaji Abdulaziz Danyari, confirmed the incident, saying he was involved in conveying the corpse of 18-year-old Aliyu Muntari of Unguwar Liman to hospital.
Danyari said most of the houses built with mud collapsed due to the intensity of the rain and resulting flood.
Meanwhile, the chairman has inaugurated a committee to investigate the extent of damage and ordered immediate release of grains to the victims. He also said the state government had been informed of the incident.
The Deputy Governor, Alhaji Surajo Damari, on Tuesday inspected the affected areas on behalf of Governor Ibrahim Shema and sympathised with the victims.
Condoling with the family of the deceased, Damari urged the victims to consider the incident as the will of God, assuring them of the government's assistance.
One of the victims, Malam Bello Maikayan-Fulani, who claimed to have lost 10 rooms in the incident, said the area had not experienced such tragic incident in more than 50 years.
Maikan-Fulani called on the government to assist the victims who had lost their homes, reconstruct drains and complete erosion control projects embarked upon by the previous administration.
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