Abuja: At least 28 people were killed and many were missing in floods caused by heavy downpours in Nigeria`s northern state of Plateau over the weekend.
"28 people have been killed in the floods that have ravaged the area," Kemi Nshe, the chairman of Shendam local government area, said.
"Two hundred hectares of farm lands were also washed away by the flood in my local government area alone", the chairman said.
Officials said scores are still missing while farmlands and crops were washed away in the incident that affected over 100 villages in the southern zone of the state.
Houses and bridges were also destroyed thereby displacing many villagers.
Nandom, a resident of Langtang, which was flood affected, said hundreds of houses and bridges linking the area with Lafia, capital of Nasarawa State and Taraba state were all swept off by the flood.
The affected local government areas were Langtang South, Langtang North, Shendam Mikang Wase and Quanpan.
Senator representing Plateau south district in the National Assembly Victor Lar told journalists the incident was ugly and unfortunate.
"The victims of this flood disaster are going through serious suffering and an a disease epidemic may break out in the area as a result of the displacement of over 1500 people if urgent steps are not taken," he said.
Nigeria has two seasons; dry and rainy.
Last July, torrential rain and flooding that hit Lagos led to more than 20 deaths even as 2000 persons were displaced.
Heavy downpour in the Island city of 15 million people triggered the overflow of canals with water which poured into residential areas and major roads.
Eleven of the dead were children who drowned in the ensuing flood as the victims could not distinguish between the roads and drainage channels.
PTI
