News

Rainy season: Plane crashes, bridge collapses likely, NEMA warns

×

Rainy season: Plane crashes, bridge collapses likely, NEMA warns

Share this article

National Emergency Management Agency, on Thursday, warned that the country may witness plane crashes following the onset of rainfall.

NEMA said it based its predictions on the volume of rainfall in some parts of the country and how the runways are constructed.

It also said the above-normal rainfall could lead to the erosion of roads and bridges, which would hinder the movement of people, goods and services across the country.

NEMS Director-General, Ahmed Habib, gave this warning in Abuja during the presentation of disaster risk management implications of the 2021 seasonal climate prediction and annual flood outlook.

According to him, “Squall lines, thunderstorm, wind shear, microburst, flash floods can affect runways, thereby disrupting landing and take-off of aircraft, causing a delay in flights, affecting sensors along runways and can lead to plane crashes in some cases.”

Regarding the impact of rainfall on other infrastructure, the NEMA boss said, “Flooding due to the predicted above-normal rainfall could erode roads and bridges which could hinder the movement of people, goods and services.

“Jetties may also be washed away which would result in economic loss.”

But he said the document presented would help in the mapping out of communities at risk and safe locations for the setting up of temporary shelters.

Habib also said the document would enable relevant agencies to plan for stockpiling of relief materials for timely intervention to persons that would be affected by floods and other disasters.

The NEMA boss added that the document contains recommendations targeted at guiding decision-makers at all levels of governments to avert adverse consequences, mitigate disaster risk, safeguard food security.

The 2021 Annual Flood Outlook released by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency predicted that 121 local government areas in 27 states, including the FCT fall, within highly probable risk areas in the country.