Following two days of torrential rain, floodwaters have submerged 85 houses and caused extensive property damage in Igarra, Akoko Edo Local Government Area of Edo State.
Areas severely affected include Uffa, Ugbogbo, Afekhai, Orere, Domingo Road, Lawani Road, Momodu Ajayi Road and the Ibillo-Auchi road.
According to reports gathered by Daily Trust, residents attribute the flooding to water overflow from the Orere rock, collapsed bridges in various parts of the area, and the indiscriminate dumping of refuse in drainages.
Priscilla Osiobafoh, the executive director of BraveHeart Initiative and a victim herself, lamented the impact of the flood, saying that approximately 85 houses were submerged, with around 50 of them severely damaged.
“We are facing this devastation due to water overflow from the Orere rocks, poor drainage systems and collapsed bridges,” Osiobafoh remarked.
Ms Feyintola Eshamah recounted the loss of all her family’s belongings to the floodwater, noting that lives were not lost but many people had been rendered homeless.
Mrs Edith Igboje appealed for urgent assistance from relevant authorities, emphasising the dire need for shelter and support for affected families.
Responding to the crisis, the council chairman Mr Tajudeen Alade, attributed the flooding to poor sanitation practices, illegal building structures obstructing waterways, and indiscriminate disposal of waste in drainages.
Alade confirmed that the local government had reported the situation to the state government, State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), seeking an immediate assistance to alleviate the plight of victims.
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