Disaster hits Jos as flood kills 35

Over five hours of heavy rainfall in Jos, the Plateau state capital has forced the Lamingo dam to overflow, causing flooding that left at least 35 people dead and destroyed or damaged some 200 homes.

Spokesperson of the Red Cross in Plateau State, Manasie Phampe Monday,said so far they have recovered 35 bodies and rescue work is ongoing.

"We have recovered the bodies of 35 people that drowned in the overnight flooding,'' he said, adding that "About 200 homes have either been submerged or destroyed.''

Mr. Phampe said among the victims are a 90-year-old woman and a three-month-old baby, adding that casualty figure is likely to rise.

"Rainwater and water from the Lamingo dam which overflowed swept across several neighbourhoods in the city,'' he explained.

"We are still searching for more bodies as many people have been declared missing.''

Also, an official with National Emergency Management Agency,NEMA in the state, Edward Maigida, said his staff were still trying to compile a list of those missing or killed.

However, the spokesperson for the agency, Yushau Shuaibu, said 21 people have been confirmed dead and 35 others missing.

Mr. Shuaibu said NEMA had already launched a search and rescue operations in the areas affected by the incident.

He said two camps have been opened to provide temporary shelter for displaced persons in Gangare Primary School and Islamiyya Secondary School.