Niger State Emergency Management Agency has said 21 people have lost their lives following a severe rainfall that resulted in a flood disaster in the Mokwa Local Government Area of the state.

The Director General of the agency, Ibrahim Hussaini, disclosed this in Minna on Thursday.

He said the incident occurred during a downpour on Wednesday, causing widespread destruction.

Mr Hussaini said three people were rescued alive, a woman and her two children and were receiving treatment for wounds and shock at Mokwa General Hospital.

He said that 21 bodies had so far been recovered in the incident, while over 10 persons were still missing as the search and rescue operation continued.

He said the affected communities were Tiffin Maza and Anguwan Hausawa communities in Mokwa town.

He added that over 50 residential houses were submerged and washed away with their occupants.

He noted that NSEMA in collaboration with the Mokwa Local Government, local divers, and volunteers was conducting search and rescue operations to rescue survivors and recover corpses. 

(NAN)