A 16-year-old boy, Temedi Yerimene, drowned in the ravaging flood at Igbogene Community in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa.

It was learnt that the deceased, in the company of his playmates, went swimming in the rising water close to the Bayelsa Ecumenical Centre when the flood pushed him into a deep canal in the area.

Efforts by the community search party to locate the remains proved futile, as half of the community has been submerged.

The mother of the deceased, known in the area as Mama Caro, in tears, said the tragic incident happened at about 11:00 a.m. on Monday while she went to the market to get ingredients for preparing lunch.

Meanwhile, residents of communities impacted by the floods in Bayelsa have appealed to the government to find a lasting solution to the annual menace.

Some lamented the hardship occasioned by the situation and appealed for temporary shelters and relief materials as the flood had already sacked them from their residences.

A victim, Perez Ayebanua, said their houses were flooded late last month, and the menace was already taking a toll on them, with reptiles competing with them for space.

Florence Job and Ebi Perekeme explained that while those with resources had left their homes for hotels or elsewhere, the needy ones got stuck and were left behind.

The residents said they were at a loss over the situation, calling on the Bayelsa and federal governments to come to their aid and cushion the pains caused by the flood.

Biseni, Tombia-Ekpetiama, Tombia-Amassoma Road, Akenfa, Akenpai, Igbogene and Swali, all in Yenagoa LGA, as well as Kaiama, Odi, Otuoke, Ogbia communities are already flooded.

Others include Tungbo, Agbere, Odoni, Bulu-Orua, Agoro and Sagbama.

A correspondent monitoring the situation reports that River Nun, its tributaries that receive waters from River Niger and the Epie Creek have all overflown their banks, discharging excess water into nearby settlements.

Other communities such as Sampou, Gbaranma Sabagreia, Okoloba, in Sagbama, Ekeremor and Kolokuma-Opokuma Local Government Areas are also battling the flood.

Checks along the East-West Road indicated that the flood was already affecting some sections.

The worst hit is the Patani section in Delta, which shares a boundary with the Bayelsa community, Adagbabiri, which is already submerged.

Meanwhile, schools in Bayelsa are on six weeks flood break to protect pupils and students from any disaster.

Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa has inaugurated a task force on flood whose major mandate is to bring relief to flood victims.

However, one week after its inauguration, the team led by the Commissioner of Environment, Iselema Gbaranbiri, said the committee was visiting the impacted sites and would make recommendations to the government. 

(NAN)