From Judex Okoro, Calabar
Six persons are feared dead with over 400 houses and 700 farms submerged following a flood that wreaked havoc in 15 Cross River communities.
The flood, which occurred as a result of down pour that lasted for about five days, took over the affected communities destroying rice, yam and cassava farms, economic trees, household items and schools worth millions of naira.
The heavy rain also affected economic activities and vehicular movements while residents of the affected areas where seen evacuating their children to nearby neighbourhood as well as removing household items to a safer place.
According to statistics collated so far by the local governement authorities, Ogurude in Osopong ward I, Osopong ward I, Okimbogha village, Ogamana, Ofonekom, Idoru, Ofiabumted, Eja, Ijeghe ibum, and Ofonagama, Ogurokpon, Omen, Ebiem and Okpechi communities were affected by the flood.
Others are Araragha 1, Araragha 2 and Okokom communities in OfunboghaYala ward.
The statistics has it that 4 lives are said have been lost at Araragha 1 just as over 150 houses and 200 farms were affected in the three communities at OfunboghaYala ward.
The statistics further showed that in Ogurude community 200 households were affected, over 200 farms destroyed and 151 houses submerged with two persons feared dead.
Some of the community members, who spoke to our correspondent, bemoaned their woe and blamed the flooding on incessant down pour that fell for about five days running.
Lamenting, the former secretary of Obubura local government area, Dr. Charles Mfem, said the rain started on Sunday, August 14 and is still raining till this moment without any respite.
Mfem, a university of Calabar lecturer, said: “We had this kind eleven years ago, but this year has become a national disaster because about 15 communities arw affected. We have lost all we have laboured for to flood.
“Following the disaster, there maybe possible rise in the rate of crime in the affected communities ranging from criminalities, to commercial sex hawking by our young females and hunger amongst those living.
“We, therefore, call on Nigerian government to quickly come to our plights by providing relief materials including food items, clothing’s, building materials and cash to help ameliorate the sufferings occasion by the disaster.”
In a telephone interview, the Obubra local government chairman, Mr. Agara Tom Bàssey, confirmed the incident, saying: “We are still taking more statistics of what happened in my communities. When we are done, I would get back to you.”