FLASH FLOOD WREAKS HAVOC IN AWKA THE ANAMBRA STATE CAPITAL FOLLOWING A HEAVY RAINFALL THAT LASTED SEVERAL HOURS 26-09-24
By Sadiq Aminu More than 15 vehicles and occupants of several houses were trapped as water flooded the entire Abel Arinze Street, close to the Awka Township Stadium.
The incident threw the people into confusion and agony as property worth millions of naira were all destroyed by the raging flood.
Africa247 correspondent who visited the area reports that the heavy rain also flooded houses within Ngozika and Udoka Estates leaving several buildings and property damaged.
After a heavy rainfall in Awka that lasted several hours on Tuesday, many residents have continued to count their loses while many are yet to recover from the midnight trauma.
When the people went to bed they never envisaged that their homes will be waterlogged let alone loosing property .
The residents narrated that they were jolted when the flood rushed into the ground floor of their buildings submerging all their properties including vehicles.
When Africa 247 Correspondent arrived the area , those living on the ground floor managed to escape to the staircase while others joined their neighbours upstairs while the furniture, beddings, home appliances and other properties were covered with water.
The people who managed to swim through the flood water recounted that property damaged included eight vehicles , two tricycles, 15 generator sets , furniture, electronic gadgets and other household items.
Narrating their ordeal, some victims said the flood was as a result of the blockage of a natural waterway known as Iyiagu River by contractors handling the construction of Solution Fun City project at the Awka Township stadium.
A victim , Mr Chibuike Patrick said their ancestral home was being threatened because contractors working on the land their forefathers donated to the state government had blocked the free flow of flood water.
Mr Emmanuel said they complained about the impending danger of the land reclamation activities to the Ministries of Works and Environment in May this year but were ignored.
Also speaking, Mr Chukwuka Okafor said the only property he came out with from the flood water which invaded his apartment was his cell phone.
Mr Okafor while narrating how he moved his family to a neighbour’s apartment upstairs, said his television, refrigerator, car, generator and other belongings were damaged by the water which was high up to his chest.
Another resident, who gave his name as Mr Chijioke said they were trapped upstairs for 24 hours before they could come down after the water receded.
He called on the Anambra state government through the relevant supervisory authorities to prevail on the contractors to do the right thing and save the area from environmental catastrophe.
The flood also wrecked havoc at a private hospital in Awka where it damaged medical and office equipment as well as submerged the compound.
In an interview, the Executive Secretary Anambra State Emergency Management Agency, Chief Paul Odenigbo who said a combined team comprising NEMA and SEMA had taken an on the spot inspection of the incidents, described it as a collateral damage .
Chief Odenigbo said in addition, a comprehensive report had been sent to the governor to brief him of the level of flood devastation within the state capital even as he called on the Federal government to come to the aid of the victims at least to cushion the effects of the situation on them.
The SEMA Executive Secretary hinted that those in the flood prone local government areas of the state were still calm as the water level was yet to overflow the riverbanks as envisaged.