Flooding Kills At Least 12 In Northern Nigeria

KANO, Nigeria, Aug 23 (AFP) - Flooding caused by heavy rains has killed at least 12 people with more than 30 hospitalised in northern Nigeria`s Gombe State, a senior government official told AFP Monday.
The 14-hour downpour started Saturday night and continued till the early hours of Sunday, leaving more than 100 houses submerged and vehicles and other valuable properties destroyed, state water resources commissioner David Albashi said.
He said a lot people were still missing following the incident.
"The floods affected all parts of the state. We are still collating figures of fatalities. However, by our estimate as at this moment, we are sure of the death of 12 people, while 100 people have lost their homes," he said.
He said state officials were assessing the extent of damage to enable them provide relief materials to the victims.
Gombe trader Abdulhamid Brambu told AFP the flooding was compounded by poor drainage system and indiscriminate dumping of refuse in the canals by residents.
"One of my neighbours is still missing with his car since Saturday," he said.
Heavy rains sweep Nigeria between June and August, often triggering dangerous floods.
Last week, at least 23 people were killed and more than 2,500 homeless in flooding in Adamawa State.