Again, Rainstorm Destroys 184 Houses in Katsina

A heavy rainstorm at the weekend destroyed no fewer than 184 houses and washed away farmlands in eight communities of Kurfi Local Government Area (LGA) of Katsina State.

Rainstorm had earlier destroyed over 500 houses and killed at least 10 people in Katsina, Jibia, Kankia, Bakori, Kafur and Dutsin-Ma LGAs of the state.

The places recently affected by the natural disaster in Kurfi includes Wurma, Birchi, Tsauri, Kofar-fada, Nasarawa, Kofar-yamma, Sabon-ungwan, Kofar-arewa.

The downpour, which, according to the victims, started around 1:15 a.m. and stopped by 12 p.m on Friday, caused river channels in the affected villages to overflow their banks, resulting to the natural disaster.

When THISDAY visited some of the affected areas yesterday, the residents were still busy salvaging their personal effects from their homes, while others were seen packing out of the affected areas.

The natural disaster sacked many residents from their homes and shops as their apartments were flooded, thereby rendering thousands homeless in the area.

An eyewitness who pleaded anonymity said: “20 houses were destroyed in Wurma, Birchi 32; Tsari, 23; Kofar-fada, 11; Sabonungwa, 19; Kofar-yamma, 32; Kofar-arewa, 14; while 43 houses were also destroyed in Nasarawa community”.

The source, however, admonished the federal and state governments to come to their aid, considering the devastating nature of the rainstorm, adding: “It is only government that can assist us because the situation is beyond our financial strength.”