?Hundreds of commuters stranded as Mokwa Bridge is cut off

?Niger government appeals to FG for help

More bodies have been recovered from Wednesday night?s flood disaster that ripped through three villages in Mokwa local government area of Niger state, bringing the total death toll to 115 as of Friday, even as the state emergency management agency, in conjunction with local divers and other relevant stakeholders, continues to search for more survivors and dead bodies.

Also, the number of injured has risen to over 150, according to the state emergency management agency, which has mobilised staff and resources to the affected areas for rescue operations.

Over 200 households were either damaged or completely washed away by the flood, which the people said the cause remains a mystery. A hundred-year-old tree in Mokwa town was pulled down by the rampaging flood.

The flood was said to have cut off the only makeshift bridge in Mokwa town on the road linking the southern parts of the country with the north, leaving hundreds of commuters stranded in Mokwa town since Wednesday night, when the flood occurred.

Worried by the level of destruction, the state government has appealed to the federal government, even as it has asked all relevant agencies to provide immediate relief to the people, especially those whose houses have been washed away and the injured.

A statement by the special adviser to the governor on communication and media strategy, Jonathan Vatsa said the state government will require assistance from the federal government to be able to cope with the situation due to the magnitude of the disaster, pointing out that ?the state government will not be able to cope with the current situation.

?This is the highest flood disaster that has occurred in the state in recent times. The destruction is huge, and this is beyond what the state government can handle. That is why we are appealing to the federal government to immediately come to our aid.?

He pointed out that all vehicles travelling to and from the north to the southern parts of the country are currently stranded at Mokwa town, as the only bridge in the town has been cut off by the flood.

Meanwhile, the state Deputy Governor, Comrade Yakubu Garba, accompanied by some top government officials, have paid an on-the-spot assessment to the affected area where he was said to have described the disaster as unimaginable.

The Deputy Governor also expressed shock at the level of destruction caused by the flood and appealed to the people to remain calm as relevant agencies intensify efforts to rescue possible survivors.

He assured the people that the government would not leave them alone, as everything humanly possible would be done to reduce their suffering. He ordered that some of the injured be evacuated to the Federal Medical Centre, Bida for proper medical attention. (Daily Sun)

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