Flood, Fire Disasters Kill 12, Affect 1,793 FCT Residents In 2023

The Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), has said that 12 people were killed, while 1,793 others were affected during floods, building collapses and fire outbreaks in the territory in 2023.

The acting director of FEMA, Mohammed Sabo, who disclosed this during the end of year briefing on activities of the agency in Abuja on Wednesday, said the lives saved were through 24 calls on FEMA’s toll free number, which the agency responded accordingly.

The breakdown of search and rescue activities in 2023 showed that 1, 373 lives were rescued from various flood disasters, four lives were however lost, while 173 lives were saved from building collapse, six persons died in the incident.

On fire outbreaks, 247 lives were saved from five calls through the 112 toll free number,  two persons lost their lives.

He also revealed that, the humanitarian activities impacted about 400 vulnerable residents of the Federal Capital Territory.

“Torrential rainfall in Yangoji/ Shafi community of Kwali area council  displaced over 200 households and destroyed 25 farmlands,” he said.

The director said FEMA in collaboration with the Turkish Foundation, UFUK dialogue distributed various food items to 200 vulnerable households to enable them celebrate the eid el Kabir.

FEMA also in collaboration with NEMA and the Agricultural and Rural Development Secretariat, distributed food and non food items to 8403 communities across the 6 area councils of the FCT.

Sabo also said in 2024, the agency would partner with the National Defence College (NDC), on the training of volunteers.