A heavy downpour on Saturday evening caused flooding in major streets and areas of Akure, the Ondo state capital. 

The downpour which started around 3:30 p m. continued until 7 p.m. 

Peoples Gazette reports that the flood prevented many residents from having access to roads leading to their houses.

Also, motorists were stranded for many hours as the flood took over many adjourning routes leading to the major roads of the state capital. 

Worse hit areas by the flood include; Oja Oba, Ondo Road, Isikan, Oyemekun, Alagbaka, and Ijoka, among other major areas in the state.

At the Isikan area of Akure, The Gazette observed many motorists abandoned their vehicles inside the flood as their movement was prevented by the water. 

It was gathered that the flood also submerged some houses in the affected areas with residents calling on the government for urgent assistance. 

“As I speak with you, we can’t sleep in the compound tonight. Everywhere, there is water (flood). We are scared right now,” an affected resident of Isikan, Ibukun Adeniyi, told our reporter in a phone chat. 

Footages from amateur videos from the affected areas circulating on social media showed flood waters raging through major streets within the state. 

Earlier, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the acting governor of Ondo had empathised with the residents and communities in the state affected by the flood. 

Mr Aiyedatiwa, in a statement, said the government was already taking positive steps towards providing palliatives to the victims affected by the natural disasters.

“We have not only visited some of the affected locations for an on-the-spot assessment, Government is also taking positive steps towards providing palliatives to the victims. 

“Besides, we have instructed the appropriate agencies and deployed equipment to embark on channelization at the State Capital and other affected Local Government Areas,” he said in the excerpt of the statement obtained by The Gazette. 

The flood came after the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), warned against massive flooding across Nigeria, calling for action to be taken early enough to mitigate the impact on the country.