The Gombe State Emergency Management Agency has said three died and 22 injured in the 2023 flood disaster in the state.

The agency said the disaster also claimed seven animals, destroyed 1,838 houses and 257 farmlands between May and October, 2023.

The Executive Secretary of the agency, Mr Abdullahi Abdullahi, stated this in an interview on Thursday in Gombe.

Mr Abdullahi said that eight out of the 11 local government areas of the state experienced the disaster as against three LGAs predicted in the 2023 Flood Outlook.

He listed Akko; Funakaye, Balanga, Gombe, Nafada, Kaltungo, Shongom and Yamaltu/Deba as the worst hit areas.

He further said that the rains accompanied by windstorm ravaged farmlands causing damage to farmers in the affected communities.

The government, he said, distributed relief materials to victims of the disaster to lessen their sufferings.

According to him, the state government is making an effort to expand the scope of the support services to the affected communities.

“Governor Inuwa Yahaya has approved relief materials to some communities affected. We have also submitted reports of flooding in the remaining communities and efforts are on to also provide relief materials to them,” he said.

He said the agency had written to the National Emergency Management Agency and the North-East Development Commission to facilitate support to the victims.

Speaking on the impact of this year’s flood, Mr Abdullahi said there was a drop in the number of lives lost, adding that effective sensitisation contributed positively in this regard.

He said, “Upon receiving flood alerts from NiMet and NASA, Governor Yahaya directed massive sensitisation as well as activation of emergency response to mitigate the impact of the disaster. This helped in creating awareness amongst residents of the state.”

Commending the state government for supporting the flood victims, Abdullahi appealed to those yet to be reached to be patient.

“The state government and other relevant agencies are aware of your plight and making efforts to assist you and I assure you that as soon as we receive the materials, we will reach out to the affected communities.

(NAN)