Not fewer than 500 people have been rendered homeless following the heavy rainfall that flooded the Dogon Ruwa Community in Kaltungo Local Government Area of Gombe State.
According to Tribune, the flood was caused by heavy rainfall on Friday, which started at 11 am and lasted until around 3 pm, forcing all the water channels in the community to overflow, resulting in flooding that cut through various buildings and causing them to collapse.
It was also gathered that some animals drowned, while a few people got injured in the process of trying to rescue their belongings and save their falling structures.
Narrating the disaster via a mobile phone conversation, a community leader, Aliyu Isah Sain Dogon – Ruwa, said, “The rain started as a normal rainfall at about 11 am, and it lasted until 3 pm on Friday. Before we understood what was happening, the flood started.
“As the flood came, houses started falling, and people were scampering for safety. Domestic animals were drowned as the wells within the houses sank due to the level of flooding.
“As of the time of talking to you, not fewer than 500 persons have been rendered homeless and are now taking refuge at the School premises.
“Though no deaths recorded, unless something was done, there may be an outbreak of waterborne diseases. All the water sources have been contaminated.”
Aliyu Isah added that the entire community has been thrown into a state of confusion as people are still counting their losses and trying to regain their lives. He stressed, “It is indeed a devastating situation. People have lost their means of living.”
He then called on the Kaltungo LGA, Gombe State Government, and other NGOs, individuals, and others to immediately come to the aid of the community before the situation gets out of hand.
Another member of the community said that the political representative of the area has been informed but, as of the time of the report, had not responded to their distress call nor visited to see things for himself.
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