Flood sacks residents, schools in Ebonyi

A heavy downpour at Abakiliki, the Ebonyi State capital has sacked many residents, businesses as well as educational institutions.
The rain which started about 1 a.m on Thursday, lasted for about 5 hours and overflowed the Iyiudene River in the area.
As soon as the river overflowed its banks, the rampaging flood surged out to roads, homes and schools.
Speaking on the disaster, Mr Victor Nwankwo, the proprietor of Universal Computer School at 21B Water Works Road, said that the rain destroyed all the school’s computers, Internet facilities and electrical gadgets.
He said: “We came this morning only to discover to our chagrin that the entire offices in the school have been submerged.

“There is no access to the premises and all the school property are trapped there. We have hired some local swimmers to assist us in recovering some of the property”.
Describing the destruction as huge, Nwankwo added: ”We have lost so much to the flooding, but for now, I cannot give you an exact estimate until we have recovered all the property trapped in the flood.”
He blamed the annual overflow of the river to the construction of buildings along the water channels.
According to him, “Iyiudene flooding is almost an annual occurrence which normally happens around the months of July and August.
“I am surprised it started in June this time around and the flooding is caused by blockage of the waterways with residential and commercial buildings.
“Once it rains heavily, water finds it difficult to flow through its axis, thereby causing flood along the areas located along the banks”.
Other victims, Eugene Obini, Emmanuel Odoh and Paschal Onwe, all living at 5, Aguyi Ironsi Street, recounted their experiences, saying that both the ground and first floors of the three-storey building were submerged.
They appealed to the Ebonyi Government to come to their rescue and to take urgent steps in dredging the river and removing structures that hindered free flow of water in the area.
In a comment on the development, Mr Umunna Igboke, the Executive Secretary, State Emergency Management Agency,SEMA, said his office would send an assessment team to the affected areas.
He said: “This morning my office received the news of the overflow of the Iyiudene River and the devastation it had caused.
“We are making arrangement to dispatch our assessment team to the affected area before we will be able to make informed statement on the flood disaster”.
Meanwhile, other residents have called on the government to take proactive measures towards solving the menace.