A devastating flood has struck Ugwu Mkpume Layout in Achalla Agu, Nkpor, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, resulting in the tragic deaths of a mother of three and one other person. The flood, caused by over 11 hours of continuous heavy rainfall that began on Thursday and extended into the early hours of Friday, wreaked havoc in the community, submerging homes and destroying properties worth millions of naira.
The victims were reportedly asleep when the floodwaters breached their homes, sweeping them away. Their bodies were later recovered at different locations within the area. The flood not only claimed lives but also left many buildings submerged, with farmlands washed away and several families trapped in their homes.
Residents of the affected area have expressed frustration, blaming the incident on the actions of a construction company (name withheld) that is working on a nearby road. According to the community, the company improperly redirected floodwaters into their area instead of channeling it to the River Niger, exacerbating the flooding.
Ifeanyi Oghota, Vice President of the Ugwu Mkpume Achalla Agu Landlords’ Association, described the event as the worst flood the community has witnessed in 25 years. Oghota lamented that the state government’s road construction project had brought “sorrow” to the community due to the company’s poor handling of flood management.
“The damage is deeply regrettable. We haven’t seen a flood like this in our community for 25 years. It is unfortunate that the construction company’s poor work has caused us so much suffering. We appeal to the state government for assistance,” Oghota said.
Dr. Alex, a local landlord, also shared his distress about the situation. “On Friday morning, we woke up to find our homes inundated by floodwaters from the heavy rains the previous day. The flood damaged properties and farmlands, including my pig farm, where all my pigs were swept away. It also destroyed fences and walls and flooded a building where a family of five was asleep. The mother and her three children were carried away by the flood, though the father managed to escape. The mother’s body was found in the morning,” he said.
He added that the children were found alive and immediately taken to the emergency unit at Royal Hospital in Nkpor, where they are currently recovering. An unidentified man’s body was also discovered in the floodwaters, adding to the growing toll of destruction. Homes and properties throughout the community remain submerged, and the damage is extensive.
Dr. Alex further attributed the disaster to the construction company’s decision to redirect floodwaters from surrounding communities into their area, which lacks the capacity to handle such a large volume of water.
Other residents, including Dr. Alex Okonkwo, Peter Nwakudo, and Rose Enemchukwu, echoed these concerns, noting that they had never experienced a flood of this magnitude in the 25 years they have lived in the area. They are calling on the state government, under Governor Chukwuma Soludo, to take immediate action and provide relief to the affected community.
Chinyere Nwoye, Public Relations Officer of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), confirmed that she had been informed of the incident and assured the public that SEMA operatives would be dispatched to assess the situation. “We are making contact with the commissioner for works, and our team will be mobilised to the area to evaluate the situation,” she said.
Residents are now waiting for government intervention, hoping that their calls for assistance will be answered before further disaster strikes.
