Gusau dam breach
Coordinates: 12 ° 8 ′ 41 ″ N , 6 ° 40 ′ 15 ″ E
The Gusau dam breach was a dam accident on the outskirts of Gusau , the capital of Zamfara in Nigeria , that happened in the early morning of September 30, 2006 , a Saturday, after heavy rains. 40 people died in the accident and around 500 houses were destroyed, leaving around 1,000 people homeless.
The heaviest rainfall ever recorded in the area had fallen since the previous day. In addition, large areas of arable land that were about to be harvested were devastated and hundreds of head of cattle were killed. A bridge between Gusau and the northern part of Zamfara also collapsed. Around 700 people were temporarily housed in a school building in the neighboring town of Birnin Ruwa, where they were cared for by the Red Cross. Drinking water wells were also polluted by the flood. The cause of the dam breach were locks that did not work and could not be opened, which is why the dam was overflowed.
The dam belonged to the Zamfara Water Board and supplied Gusau with water.
See also
Web links
- “Burst dam destroys Nigeria homes” , October 1, 2006
- 40 killed in Nigerian dam collapse -DAWN - International; October 2, 2006
- NIGERIA: Dozens still missing after dam collapse