The Jigawa State Emergency Management Agency said flood had killed 18 persons and destroyed 6,637 houses in about 19 local government areas in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria reported that the Executive Secretary of SEMA, Alhaji Yusif Sani, said this while briefing newsmen on the activities of the agency on Tuesday in Dutse.

Sani said that the incidents occurred during the current rainy season.

He explained that the persons died in Gwaram, Dutse, Jahun, Gumel and Ringim local government areas of the state.

The executive secretary said that the flood destroyed 141 houses in Dutse; 419 in Jahun; 525 in Hadejia, 417 in Babura; 525 in Ringim; 822 in Gumel; 529 in Malammadori; and 126 in Birninkudu local government areas.

According to him, the disaster also claimed 68 houses in Taura; 120 in Kazaure; 691 in Maigatari; 336 in Gagarawa; 67 in Buji; 96 in Kirikasamma; 101 in Garki; 856 in Kiyawa; 87 in Kafinhausa; 57 in Gwaram and 54 in Suletankarkar local government areas.

Sani added that some of victims died as a result of building collapse, adding that three persons also sustained injuries when some of the buildings crashed.

He said the state government had already intervened by providing cash assistance to be given to the victims in phases.

“The state has already started intervening in order to mitigate the suffering of the victims.

“We started with Jahun Local Government Area where we gave over N2.3m to the victims to buy foodstuffs.

“And this will continue until we reach all the victims in the state,” he said.