Many Residents Trapped, Others Displaced As Flood Sweeps Delta State Community (Photos)

Flooding has caused serious devastation in parts of Delta State.

Scores of persons have been trapped while many others were displaced from their homes by an unexpected flood that ravaged the entire Ikpide-Irri riverine community of Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State.

The flood, SaharaReporters reliably gathered, destroyed properties as well as agricultural produce such as crops, yams, cassava, groundnuts, potatoes, vegetables and plantains among others worth several millions of naira as the water level continued to rise every second.

On a visit to the community, SaharaReporters observed that the water, which gained entry into the entire community through the River Niger, damaged houses and properties.

An elder in the community, Joseph Ubeleke, whose house and properties were affected, expressed fear, that if immediate rescue of persons to a safer place did not come, scores of persons may lose their lives, adding that "The Isoko South local government council, the state government and the federal government should come to the aid of the trapped and displaced people now before it's too late."

Another indigene, who identified himself as Victor Idebesi, said, "This is the worst flood we have had since 2012 when we thought we had seen the worst. Churches, markets, and schools have all been taken over by flood water. Just few days everywhere in the entire community have been taken over by the flood. And water keeps on rushing from the River Niger into the community.

“Our agricultural products such as cassava, plantain, vegetables, potatoes, groundnuts and others have been completely submerged by the devastating floods. Corpses have been exhumed from the ground by the flood. Schools have been shot down.

"We are therefore calling on governments at all levels to come to our aid before we start losing our lives due to the devastating effects of the flood. Our village, Ikpide-Irri community, though a riverine community is completely submerged. Since I was born, I have never seen such a thing. This year’s flood is 10 times more that of 2012.

“The Isoko South council chairman, Victor Asasa, the state governor, Ifeanyi Okowa and President Muhammadu Buhari, should come to our aid as soon as possible. No any rescue mission in sight, no way to evacuate our people. We are seriously trapped down here as we talk."

Meanwhile, the Delta State 2022 Flood Disaster Management Committee has approved the opening of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in Asaba, the state capital, Ozoro, headquarters of Isoko North local government area and Ashaka, Ndokwa East council area of the state.