•Evacuation of residents in flood-prone communities begins in Anambra
A devastating flood triggered by heavy rainfall yesterday has destroyed goods and properties around Zik Avenue, Iweka Road, by the popular Ochanja Market near Onitsha, Anambra State.
The area is home to top business enterprises and commercial activities, housing many shops but the flood displaced some traders from their shops and destroyed some goods and wares, resulting in significant losses, reports The PUNCH.
Our correspondent, who monitored the area on Wednesday, gathered that the flood, caused by blocked drainage, covered the whole stretch of the Zik Avenue, caught residents and traders off guard and halted commercial activities throughout the day while people remained indoors to avoid being swept away.
Also, in videos currently circulating online monitored by our correspondent, residents and traders were seen struggling to salvage some of their goods and properties as the flood kept raging into their shops.
A tricycle operator could be seen trying to rescue his tricycle from the flood while the raging flood kept dragging it backwards, while other residents and traders were also seen taking refuge at safe corners.
When our correspondent earlier visited the area yesterday, some residents and traders were seen scooping floodwaters from their houses and shops while some of them who shared their harrowing experiences called on the state government for intervention.
A resident identified simply as Uchenna said, “This area is near the River Niger. Any mistake will lead to the flood sweeping someone into the river. That is why whenever it is raining, people are advised to steer clear of the road to avoid being swept away.
“The rain was devastating. We have not experienced this kind of flooding in this area and with the prediction of NiMET of impending flooding in the months to come, the worst may not have come yet.
“Anambra, being among the states pencilled down by NiMET to be affected by the impending flooding, we are worried that if critical steps and deliberate effort are not taken to forestall this danger, it might spell doom across all facets, including lives and property, farmlands and livestock, among others.”
In his reaction, one of the landlords in the area, Justine Ugoh, said, “The rain caught people off guard. It covered the whole roads that one would not differentiate between them and the drainage. It entered many houses and shops and halted activities for several hours as no one could go out.
“Whenever it is raining here, people are advised to remain indoors and avoid wading through the flood to avoid being swept away. On some occasions, there were records of loss of human lives, but there is no such record today.
“The blocked drainage also contributed to the flooding. Residents have consistently carried out sanitation exercises and cleared their drainage, yet the flood has left them in panic whenever it occurs. The State Emergency Management Agency has been notified, but assistance has yet to arrive.
“This incident highlights the need for improved drainage systems and emergency preparedness in the state. We also urge the Anambra State Government to find a lasting solution by ensuring floods are properly channelled to the right places.”
