The Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Department (FEMD) has warned residents living around waterways and flood-prone areas to relocate immediately following a devastating flood incident in Mabushi District, Abuja.

In a statement issued on Friday in Abuja, the acting Director-General of FEMD, Abdulrahman Mohammed, also called on members of the public to clear blocked drains in their areas.

In the statement, signed by Nkechi Isa, head of public affairs at FEMD, Mr Mohammed urged the residents to ensure the urgent removal of structures built on waterways to prevent disasters.

He said the appeal became necessary following an early morning downpour on Friday that submerged the ground floor of a one-storey building in the Mabushi district.

According to him, the building located at No. 22 Anthony Ikem Street was submerged up to the window level, destroying household items, foodstuff, and important documents.

Mr Mohammed said the FEMD deployed a search-and-rescue team to the disaster area after receiving a distress call at about 3:00 a.m.

He explained that the team manually evacuated water from the affected apartments after a generator attached to their pumping machine failed to start.

Mr Mohammed, who confirmed that no loss of life was recorded, admonished the residents to take precautionary measures as the rainy season intensifies.

(NAN)