JOS, Nigeria, Aug 7 (Reuters) - At least 14 people have been killed and thousands of families forced to leave their homes by flash floods sweeping the central Nigerian state of Plateau, the Red Cross said on Tuesday.

The flooding, which began on Sunday, followed a heavy downpour which made a river break its banks, washing away buildings, livestock and crops in the remote farming districts of Kanam, Wase and Langtang North, officials said.

"Fourteen people were confirmed dead, some people are still missing, while five were injured, and 7,000 have been displaced in the three areas," a Red Cross official told Reuters.

One local official said 16 people were killed in the district of Wase alone, while local sources said seven had died in Langtang North and three in Kanam. This could not be confirmed independently.

Hundreds of people have taken refuge in an emergency camp set up by the local authorities, while scores have taken shelter with friends and relatives.

Heavy rain has caused flooding in several parts of Africa's most populous country, but the disaster in Plateau is the worst.

Thousands of families have been driven from their homes in parts of Nigeria's biggest city and commercial capital Lagos by flooding caused by days of heavy rain, which caused another river to overflow.

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