Flood Claims Three In Eight Rivers Communities

Three persons have been confirmed dead as floods submerged
eight communities in the Abua/Odua Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The Chairman of the local government council, Mr Udi Odum,
who confirmed the information in Abua on Tuesday, said the floods occurred
following the overflow of Orashi River.

Odum told The Tide that the floods which began in
mid-September had not receded, adding that such floods had not occurred in the
area for a long time.

.He said the affected communities were Adada, Emesu,
Emelego, Akani, Obrany, Kalaibiama, Ogbema I and Ogbema II.

“Apart from loss of lives and property, farmlands have also
been swept away by the rampaging floods. I can tell you that more than 85 per
cent of our people are farmers, and their only means of livelihood has been
destroyed.’’ the chairman said.

Odum said the flood destroyed crops, such as banana,
plantain, yam, cassava and garden egg, as well as fish ponds.

“The level of devastation is really beyond what the council
can handle. We are appealing to the state and federal governments to come to
our aid because our people affected by the floods have been displaced and need
urgent assistance,’’ he said.

Odum said that the council would donate relief materials to
the victims before assistance from the federal or state government could come.

“As a council, we will see what we can do to assist our
people. In the interim, we have told residents of coastal areas to vacate their
homes because the floods are still coming,’’ he said.

Chief Ipeghan Edum, the traditional ruler of Ogbema II, told
our correspondent  that residents of the
community had left because of the floods.

“We are appealing to the government to come to our aid
because we are really suffering. For now, we need food, medicine and other
things that will give us succour,’’ he said.