By Attah Ede Makurdi
At least eight persons have reportedly died in a heavy flooding that occurred on Monday in Kpoghirikpo, an ancient kingdom of Itim community in Afikpo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
The Incident which occurred as a result of heavy rainfall, also destroyed over 800 farmlands and several households, creating a major humanitarian crisis within the community.
A mother and her four children died in the devastating flood.
Residents said the flood disaster resulted in the death of a mother and her four children, as a search and rescue team from the community was able to rescue four other children alive.
Meanwhile, four bodies have been recovered and buried, while search efforts continue for those who are still missing.
Our correspondent gathered that the flood took place after many farmers had gone to their farmlands to evacuate their produce.
A source in the area who identified himself as Okoye Lazarus, told newsmen on phone that over 800 farmlands were destroyed, and 3000 households rendered homeless and hopeless.
He called on the federal and state governments for intervention and donate relief materials to help the displaced families and address the widespread destruction.
Responding to the flood incident, the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Human Capital Development, Ann Aligwe, said an emergency response team from the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has gone to the community for immediate intervention and rescue.
She also said that the state government has made provisions for relief materials to cushion the effect of the disaster to the affected victims.
Aligwe enjoined people living in low-lying, flood-prone zones to relocate to safer locations provided by the state government as the rains continue.
