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Flooding.

Katsina — Floods have rendered many families homeless in Mai'Adua and Safana Local Government Areas of Katsina State.

Unconfirmed sources said over 1,400 houses, 150 domestic animals and property worth millions of naira have been destroyed by the floods following a heavy rainfall. However, Katsina State government claimed 780 houses were affected. Mai'Adua is among the local governments which NIMET warned would be affected by flood this year.

Sunday Trust gathered that hundreds of houses were washed away by floods in Illela village, Safana local government, at the weekend.

According to victims of the disaster, the rainfall in Mai'Adua began last Wednesday and lasted for many hours, thereby causing the floods in the area.

Many of the affected families have taken refuge in the houses of neighbours.

One of the victims, Malam Sani Mai'Adua, whose house collapsed, said he had moved his family to a friend's house, and called on the state and local governments to come to their aid.

Many described the flood as "devastating," and appealed to the state government to construct drainages in the affected areas so as to prevent recurrence.

Alhaji Abba Yusuf, Mai'Adua Local Government caretaker chairman, said Mai'Adua headquarters of the local government and Gwajo-Gwajo village were the most affected.

Yusuf said, "I appeal to the state government and donor agencies to come to the aid of the people of the affected areas."

The Executive Director, State Relief and Emergency Agency (RERA), Alhaji Sulaiman Rawayau, said government had assessed the level of damage caused by the flood.

Rawayau said, "780 houses have been destroyed by the flood. Government has alerted the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on the situation."

He added that state government would present relief materials to victims of the disaster this week.