By Kamsi Anayo, Awka
No fewer than six houses and 15 cars were trapped in a flood caused by heavy rainfall in Awka, Anambra state.
The Arinze close, near the Awka Township Stadium, is worst affected by the flood.
Residents of the area, who spoke with our Correspondent said they were sleeping when the rain started.
They said they were jolted when the flood submerged the ground floor of their buildings.
Our correspondent, who visited the area, reports that those living on the ground floor managed to escape through the staircase to the top floor of the buildings.
“Furniture, bedding, appliances and other properties were soaked in floodwater.
“Damaged property included eight cars, two tricycles, 15 generators, furniture, electronics and other household items,” one victim lamented.
Also narrating their ordeal, other victims said the blockage of the natural waterway (Iyiagu River) by contractors caused the flooding.
They said the contractors were handling the Solution Fun City project at the stadium area.
An indigene of the area, who simply identified himself as Mr Emmanuel, said that the incident had threatened their ancestral home.
Emmanuel said the community had complained about the impending danger of the land reclamation activities to the Ministries of Works and Environment but they ignored it.
“We are indigene of this place. We inherited it from our fathers who donated this land to the Anambra Government.
“But the contractor working inside the stadium sand filled the place such that water from here cannot flow into the Iyiagu river.
“We raised the alarm but they said it was their property which they have to protect. Now they caused us an avoidable disaster.
“Our street, houses and properties are submerged by flood waters,” Emmanuel said.
Also speaking, Mr Henry Akunna, a policeman, said the only property he escaped with, was his phone.
Henry said he had moved his family to a neighbour’s apartment upstairs.
“The floodwater has damaged my television, fridge, car, generator and other belongings. The water was high up to my chest.
Another resident, Chijioke Ikeh, recounted how the flood trapped his family upstairs for 24 hours. They only come down after the water receded.
Chijioke called on relevant agencies of the Anambra State Government to prevail on the contractors to order to save the area from environmental catastrophe.
Efforts to get the Commissioner for Works, Mr Ifeanyi Okoma, for comments proved abortive.
Okoma neither pick up his calls nor reply to text messages.
Meanwhile, Mr Paul Odenigbo, the Executive Secretary of Anambra State Emergency Management Management Agency (SEMA), has reacted to the flooding disaster.
Odenigbo said the state government had activated 27 holding camps for persons displaced by the flood.
He said the flood had submerged many farmlands in Anambra communities due to increased water levels.
“The water level has been rising and it may rise more due to the release of water from dams in the neighbouring countries.
“Some farmers have started harvesting their crops prematurely.
“We call on those living in the riverine areas to relocate to a safe place whenever the water level rises.
“The state government’s flood response committee, headed by the Deputy Governor, will take care of displaced people during their stay in camps.
“The agency has also started cleaning and fumigating the holding camps across the state.
“This is to make the camps habitable for the displaced flood victims,” Odenigbo said.
He commended the Federal Government’s support through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
