The Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) Monday said 23 persons have died from flood and flood-related issues in Benue state.
This is even as SEMA has begun distribution of relief materials to the victims of flood in the state.
Statistics provided by the Benue SEMA while briefing newsmen Monday revealed that a total of 116,084 persons have so far being affected by flood caused by torrential rainfall in the past two weeks and release of water from Lagdo Dam.
He said the figure provided may still be more as staff of the agency were still on the field to get statistics of the persons affected in most places.
He said apart from displaced people, the flood has submerged churches, schools, residential houses, business premises, among others.
He said water level as a result of release of water from the Lagdo dam has reached 11.55 metres as at Sunday, adding that he has already watched video of the second tranche being released.
He added that some of the victims in Agatu, Guma, Apa etc are being coordinated by the local government council chairmen to move to camps where there will be better security and where they can easily be reached.
He said the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is already on ground with a mobile water treatment machine to provide potable water to the affected victims.
“NEMA has been on ground and have produced 8000 litres of water and it is distributing to other communities.
“This purification is to aide against water borne disease. Blankets and mattresses have also started arriving and food will also reach the state from the apex agency very soon,” he added.
