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Achalla Agu community in Anambra State’s Nkpor Idemili North Local Government Area has been plunged into mourning following a catastrophic flood that ravaged Ugwu Mkpume Layout, resulting in the loss of a mother and her three children, as well as one other person. The community is struggling to come to terms with the scale of the tragedy.
The victims met their untimely demise while fast asleep, as the floodwaters stormed into their apartments with unrelenting fury. The deluge tore them from their beds, transporting their bodies to a remote spot, where they were discovered lifeless, a grim testament to the disaster’s destructive power.
A relentless 11-hour downpour, stretching from Thursday into the early hours of Friday, unleashed a torrent of water that proved too much for the area to handle, culminating in the devastating flood that ravaged Ugwu Mkpume Layout.
Read also: Abia Floods: Senate Calls For Immediate Relief Measures
The Vice President of Ugwu Mkpume Achalla Agu Landlords’ Association, Ifeanyi Oghota, said, “The damage is regrettable. We have not witnessed this type of flood in our community in 25 years. It is regrettable what the bad work of the construction company has caused us, and we appealed to the state government to come to our aid.”
One of the landlords in the area identified as Dr Alex, who spoke to the press, said, “This is what we woke up to see on Friday morning. The floods caused by the heavy rains on Thursday broke into our houses and damaged property and farmlands. I am a pig farmer, it swept away my pigs.
“The bodies of the three children were also found somewhere else in another location. Fortunately, they were still alive as of the time they were found and they were quickly rushed to the emergency unit of the Royal Hospital, Nkpor, where they are recovering.”
Chinyere Nwoye, the Public Relations Officer for the State Emergency Management Agency, indicated that she had just been apprised of the situation and was rapidly initiating efforts to connect with the Commissioner for Works, with the aim of sending a team to the area to ascertain the facts.