Flood has wreaked havoc in the Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State, destroying houses, property and farmlands.

Ogbaru is a flood-prone community in Anambra State, which has continually suffered devastation in the past years.

The flooding followed persistent rainfall that caused the rise of the water level from the River Niger.

Some residents were seen wading through the waters while houses, farmlands, and private and public facilities were submerged.

Residents now paddle wooden canoes to their destinations, as the roads in the area had been submerged.

Contacted, the Executive Secretary of the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Paul Odenigbo, stated that the residents in water-prone areas were well sensitised about the impending flood this year.

Mr Odenigbo said that the state government had prepared a haven for those who would be affected by flooding, adding that personnel were on the ground to evacuate affected residents when the floods became unbearable.

He noted that this was the early stage, and the water would continue to rise daily.

 He stated, “All water-prone areas in Anambra State were well sensitised about the flood situation; they were not taken unaware, and the agency is preparing its staff who work on the field to mitigate the flooding. They are also getting the holding centres ready by preparing them, fumigating them and preparing them for occupation by people who are going to be affected by the flood; it’s a normal thing at this stage.’’

Asked if the people would not be adamant about evacuating to a haven, he explained that such resistance could happen with some residents, as the agency experiences it yearly.

He stated,  “The high water is not a new thing to them; they have been living with it year in, year out. It’s not the way you are seeing it; they are seeing it. When you tell them to go, they just laugh at you, because to them, nothing has happened.

Efforts to get the reaction of the state Commissioner for Environment, Felix Odumegwu, failed as he neither picked calls made to his mobile nor responded to the text messages sent.

(NAN)