More than 50 villages have been washed away with three persons killed and many missing in a flood, which occurred on Saturday, the Adamawa Government said on Monday.

The flood was caused by the release of water from Lagdo Dam in Cameroon Republic, Mr Kobis Aris, the state Chairman of the Quick Response Committee on the disaster, said.

Aris spoke shortly after an emergency meeting with the affected communities in Yola.

"Adamawais under disaster due to the flood caused by the release of water from Lagdo Dam from Cameroun Republic.

"The committee has received a report that over 50 villages along the River Benue Basin were totally washed away, while three people were confirmed dead as a result of the flood and many still missing, " he said.

Aris, who is also the Secretary to the State Government, said that the committee had received a report that many copses were seen floating on River Benue.

He expressed regret that almost all the 21 local government areas of the state were affected.

Aris named most of the affected areas as Fufore, Girei, Yola South, Yola North, Demsa, Numan, Lamurde, Sheleng, Michika, Guyuk and Ganye local government areas.

"Half of Demsa Local Government Area is totally under water with over 105, 000 persons waiting to be rescued, " he said.

Aris called on organisations, well-meaning individuals and governments to assist the committee to deal with the situation, considering that the state government lacked the resources to offer enough relief to flood victims.

"We appeal to the Federal Government, NGOs and other assisting organisations to come to the aid of the people of the state as the state is now facing the most difficult situation.

"We strongly condemn the way and manner the Cameroun Republic released the water.

"We are asking that the Federal Government should immediately intervene and talk to Cameroonian authorities to hold the release of the dam because every year we experience such disaster.

" But this year's flood is the worst , we have never witnessed such calamity since 1959.

"We urge the Federal Government to do something urgently because as I am talking to you now, we don't know the actual number of people killed or missing due to the flood disaster since last Saturday, " Kobis said.

He said the state government had sent some medical personnel to some affected areas to treat victims and check the possible outbreak of cholera.

NAN