Flood Tragedy As Mother, Three Children Swept Away In Anambra

At the heart of this disaster, a mother of three and another resident have tragically lost their lives. Reports indicate that the floodwaters breached their homes while they were asleep, sweeping them away in the dead of night. Their bodies were discovered in different locations later that day. Miraculously, the three children of the deceased mother were found alive and have been rushed to the Royal Hospital in Nkpor, where they are undergoing emergency treatment.

The flood, which began late Thursday and continued into the early hours of Friday, inundated large swaths of the community. Buildings were submerged, with some residents trapped in their homes on the lower floors of multi-story buildings as the floodwaters rose. The destruction extended beyond residential areas; farmlands were obliterated, and properties valued in the millions of naira were destroyed.

Local sources report that the floodwaters covered entire streets and neighborhoods, making rescue efforts challenging and further compounding the impact on affected families. Dr. Alex Okonkwo, a local landlord and pig farmer, described the devastation in visceral terms.

“This is what we woke up to see on Friday morning,” Okonkwo said, his voice laden with sorrow. “The floods caused by the heavy rains broke into our houses, sweeping away not just properties but lives.”

Amidst the grief and destruction, a contentious issue has emerged. Residents and local officials are accusing a nearby construction firm of exacerbating the flood’s impact. The company, engaged in a road construction project on the Inland Doors Nkpor-Umuoji Road, is alleged to have improperly managed the floodwaters. Instead of channeling runoff towards the River Niger, as is standard practice, the construction firm reportedly directed the waters into the community.

Ifeanyi Oghota, Vice President of the Ugwu Mkpume Achalla Agu Landlords’ Association, expressed dismay over what he termed “the wrong channelling of floodwaters.” He noted that the community had not experienced such severe flooding in over 25 years. Oghota has called on the state government to address the issue and provide aid to those affected.

“The good intentions of the state government in improving infrastructure have turned into a disaster due to the bad practices of the construction company,” Oghota said. “We need immediate intervention to help our people and to prevent such tragedies in the future.”

The community’s frustration is palpable, and appeals for help are growing. Local residents, including Dr. Alex Okonkwo, Peter Nwakudo, and Rose Enemchukwu, have underscored the severity of the situation, citing the unprecedented nature of the flooding. They have urged Governor Prof. Chukwuma Soludo to intervene swiftly, emphasizing that the current drainage infrastructure is inadequate to handle the volume of water being diverted into their area.

The State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has been informed of the disaster. Chinyere Nwoye, SEMA’s Public Relations Officer, acknowledged the reports and assured that a team would be dispatched to assess the situation. “We are aware of the incident and are coordinating with the commissioner for works to address the issue,” Nwoye stated. “Our operatives will be sent to the area to evaluate the damage and provide necessary support.”

As the waters recede and the community begins to assess the damage, the focus will likely shift to recovery and prevention. The flood has laid bare vulnerabilities in infrastructure and emergency preparedness, raising urgent questions about how similar disasters can be prevented in the future.

For now, the people of Ugwu Mkpume Layout face the daunting task of rebuilding their lives while grappling with the loss of loved ones and the destruction of their homes. The coming days will be critical in determining the extent of aid and support that can be mobilized to help this community recover from one of the most devastating floods they have witnessed in decades.