Devastating Flood Hits Anambra Community, Kills Mother Of Three, One Other

A severe flood has struck Ugwu Mkpume Layout in Achalla Agu, Nkpor, Anambra State, resulting in the deaths of a mother of three and another individual. The flood was caused by over 11 hours of intense rainfall that began on Thursday and persisted into early Friday. The victims were asleep when the floodwaters breached their homes, carrying them away. Their bodies were later found at different locations.The flood caused extensive damage: buildings were submerged, valuable property was destroyed, and farmlands were washed away. Many residents were trapped in their homes, particularly those living on lower floors. Residents have blamed a nearby construction project for exacerbating the flood. They allege that a construction company improperly redirected floodwaters into their community rather than channeling them to the River Niger. Ifeanyi Oghota, Vice President of the Ugwu Mkpume Achalla Agu Landlords’ Association, criticized the construction company’s flood management, calling it a major contributor to the disaster.Dr. Alex, a local landlord, reported severe damage, including the loss of his pig farm and the flooding of a building where a family of five was sleeping. While the mother and three children were carried away by the flood, the father managed to escape. The mother’s body was found the next morning, while the children were rescued and taken to Royal Hospital, Nkpor, where they are recovering.Residents, including Dr. Alex Okonkwo, Peter Nwakudo, and Rose Enemchukwu, have expressed frustration, noting that they have not experienced such severe flooding in the past 25 years. They have appealed to Governor Chukwuma Soludo for aid, highlighting that their area is now receiving floodwaters redirected from other communities, which it cannot handle.Chinyere Nwoye, Public Relations Officer of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), acknowledged the incident and promised to send a team to assess the situation and coordinate with the commissioner for works to address the disaster.