ABUJA, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- Nine people have so far been killed and five others hospitalized following a recent flood disaster in Nigeria's northwestern state of Kano, the government confirmed on Wednesday.

More than 4,475 people from nine districts of Kano have been affected by the flood since Aug. 27, according to government data.

Head of the Kano State Emergency Relief and Rehabilitation Agency Ali Bashir told reporters that a total of 14 districts were hit by the disaster.

Bashir said government officials are still assessing the extent of damage and casualty figures.

Last week, Nigeria's Hydrological Services Agency issued a red alert on flooding in seven states across Nigeria, citing increasingly high river levels.

At least three major dams have started releasing water as high flow from the upper catchment of the Niger basin continues to move downstream to Nigeria. Enditem