From Judex Okoro, Calabar
Tragedy struck Musaha Lane, Effioawan and Bassey streets extension in Calabar South of Cross River state, yesterday, as flood took over the areas destroying property and other household items worth millions of naira.
The flood, which occurred as a result of a downpour that lasted about two hours, submerged about five houses within the affected streets close to the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS).
The heavy rains 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.
Some residents, who spoke to Daily Sun, blamed the flooding on the absence of drainage systems in the area and inability of the government to evacuate refuse littered around the major streets in Calabar South.
A Keke rider, Emma Okon, 28, said: “Once the rainy season sets in, we normally have flooding. But this afternoon is unprecedented as the two hours torrential rain just came with flashy flood.
“It was surprising that within 30 minutes, the rain started, some houses and shops on the road side in Musaha were already over-flooded and occupants started running out for safety.
“I managed to escape because I was cut up in the middle of Musha Lane while I was trying to drop off passengers I carried from Watt Market. To escape, I had to come down and, with help of some boys, we jacked the Keke off the flood.”
Another resident and a trader, Ijeoma, 24, said: “This is how we suffer every raining season. This water has no channels, no gutters, that is why it has over flown. You see now, we cannot even step out of our shops. Some shops are already overtaken by flood and some goods destroyed and that is a big loss.”
In an emotion laden tone, a landlord, Okon Effiom, said: “Let the government help us and construct drainage and that is the only solution. As much as it keeps raining, this floods will keep re-occurring.
“The worst is that the whole Calabar South has become a refuse dump as government agents don’t evacuate refuse any longer.
“The waste bins at Ekpo Abasi by Mayne Avenue, Ekpo Abasi by Yellow Duke, and Cross River University junction are all overflowing with refuse and have not been evacuated for over a month. So, once rain drops, it would cause flooding as those refuse block drainages within the area.”