4 days ago
At least two children have died and several other people have been hospitalized after heavy rainfall triggered a building collapse in the Gandun Sarki Community, located in the Malam Madori Local Government Area of Jigawa State.
Malam Suma’ila, a local resident and the father of the deceased children, reported that the incident occurred on Friday night. The room where the children were sleeping collapsed during a heavy downpour that lasted for more than an hour across parts of the Hadejia Senatorial District.
According to Suma’ila, the victims who lost their lives were aged five and eight. Other members of the family were successfully rescued from the debris and taken to the Hadejia General Hospital for medical treatment.
The severe weather and subsequent flooding also caused widespread destruction in the community, leaving many residents homeless. Suma’ila added that more than 20 houses were either completely destroyed or severely damaged by the storm.
Another local resident, Sani Abubakar, whose home was entirely destroyed, appealed to the Jigawa State Government to provide immediate assistance to the affected families. Community members have also urged the government to improve drainage infrastructure and provide recovery support to prevent future disasters and help victims rebuild.
Attempts to reach the Jigawa State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) for comment on the situation were unsuccessful at the time of publication.
Why It Matters
Northern Nigeria, particularly low-lying states like Jigawa, is highly vulnerable to severe seasonal flooding during the annual rainy season. Many residential structures in rural and semi-urban communities are constructed with mud bricks and traditional materials, making them susceptible to structural failure during intense downpours. The lack of adequate drainage systems and robust emergency response infrastructure in these regions often compounds the impact of extreme weather events, leading to recurring displacement and casualties.
English (US) ·