As the flood submerged schools, churches, naval outpost, police station and others, Obiano directed the closure of about 600 primary and secondary schools
Geoffrey Anyanwu, Awka and Jeff Amechi Agbodo, Onitsha
Following the rising flood level in some parts of Anambra State, Governor Willie Obiano has asked residents of riverine communities to relocate.
READ ALSO: Flood submerges Senator Oduah’s community, others in Anambra
The governor, who made the request during an emergency meeting with heads of agencies with responsibilities to participate in emergencies in the event of the deluge, said the relocation of residents had become imperative.
Obiano said the meeting became imperative following emerging information indicating rising flood level in some parts of the state and the latest information about Cameroun opening its dams.
The governor appealed to residents of the affected communities to heed the warning by relevant agencies and vacate the flood-prone areas on time, and assured that his government is committed to their welfare.
Obiano’s deputy, Dr. Nkem Okeke, also said agencies charged with responsibility during the flood have been designated to their various tasks and were awaiting mobilisation and deployment.
Meanwhile, flood wreaked havoc in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State, yesterday, as 13 communities have been submerged by the flood.
READ ALSO: Flood submerges Anambra council secretariat
As the flood submerged schools, churches, naval outpost, police station and others, Obiano directed the closure of about 600 primary and secondary schools, public and private.
Hundreds of residential houses, including the family house, Senator Stella Oduah, representing Anambra Central, and parts of the traditional ruler of Atani’s palace, Igwe Augustine Ngoddy’s house were affected.
The house of the chairman of the local government area, Chief Arinzechukwu, as well as the house of the Special Assistant to the governor on Community Liaison house, Ossai Odogwu’s, among others, were also affected.
When Daily Sun visited the area, yesterday, some displaced families were seen removing household items and other valuables while others used canoe to asses their homes as water has overran their houses.
Communities worse hit included Atani, Odekpe, Osumala, Umuzu, Umunankwo, Ogwuekpele, Akili, Akiliogidi, Otuche, Ogbaku, Mputu, among others.
Chairman of the local government area, Chief Awogu, who is also one of the displaced persons said three Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps, also known as holding camps, were created for those already displaced by the flood, where about 500 families would stay until the level of water subsides.
He said although no loss of life had been recorded, farmlands, agricultural produce, household property, many houses worth hundreds of thousands were destroyed, saying the displaced families were taking refuge at the council secretariat, Primary School Odekpe and St. James Anglican Church, Iyiowa.
Awogu also distributed some relief materials brought by the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) such as mattresses, mats, blankets, buckets to the displaced persons at the council secretariat.