Devastating Flood Claims Two Lives in Anambra State
A devastating flood has ravaged Ugwu Mkpume Layout, Achalla Agu community, Nkpor in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, claiming the lives of a mother of three and one other person. The victims were reportedly asleep when the flood breached their homes, carrying them away. Their bodies were later discovered at different locations.
The flooding resulted from over 11 hours of heavy rain that began on Thursday and continued into the early hours of Friday. Many buildings in the area were submerged, with properties worth millions of naira destroyed and farmlands washed away.
Residents and victims have alleged that the flooding was exacerbated by a construction company working on a nearby road, which redirected water into their community instead of channelling it to the River Niger.
Ifeanyi Oghota, Vice President of the Ugwu Mkpume Achalla Agu Landlords’ Association, described the incident as tragic and lamented that the state government’s road construction project had led to “sorrow” due to the company’s improper flood management. He said, “The damage is deeply regrettable. We haven’t seen a flood like this in our community in 25 years. “It is unfortunate that the construction company’s poor work has caused us so much suffering. We appeal to the state government for assistance.”
Dr. Alex, a local landlord, shared his distress about the situation, saying, “On Friday morning, we woke up to find our homes inundated by floodwaters from the heavy rains the previous day. “The flood damaged properties and farmlands, including my pig farm, where all my pigs were swept away. It also destroyed fences and walls and flooded a building where a family of five was asleep. “The mother and her three children were carried away by the flood; the father managed to escape. The mother’s body was found in the morning.” He added that the children were found alive and were taken to the emergency unit at Royal Hospital, Nkpor, where they are recovering.
An unidentified man’s lifeless body was also discovered in the flood.
Other residents, including Dr. Alex Okonkwo, Peter Nwakudo, and Rose Enemchukwu, echoed Dr. Alex’s sentiments, saying that they had never experienced such a flood in the 25 years they have lived in the community. They appealed to state Governor Chukwuma Soludo for assistance, noting that the floodwaters from neighboring communities are now being diverted into their area, which cannot handle it.
Chinyere Nwoye, Public Relations Officer of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), promised to deploy SEMA operatives to assess the situation.
