Flood sacks 7,000 in Delta

UGHELLI—No fewer than 1,200 houses had been submerged and 7,000 persons displaced at Abare and Toru-Angiama in Patani Local Government Area of Delta State.
Also, 46 communities across Isoko South, Ndokwa East and Ndokwa West affected by the surging flood, are now taking refuge in Ivrogbo, an upland community in Isoko South Local Government Area of the state.
State Commissioner for Special Duties, Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, Mr. Tonye Timi, who spoke to our correspondent, said over 95 per cent and 50 per cent of Abare and Toru-Angiama, respectively, had been submerged by flood.
He said the victims were being evacuated to the skill acquisition centre in Bulu-Angiama, hometown of the Deputy Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Basil Ganagana, adding that parts of Patani town had also been submerged by the flood.
Member representing Isoko South Constituency I in the state House of Assembly, Mr. Okiemute Essien, who also spoke to newsmen at Ivrogbor, when he visited the town to address some of the displaced persons in the area and make further arrangements for the evacuation of those still trapped by the flood, said camps, including the community town hall, had been provided as temporary settlement for the victims.
He lamented the level of devastation, saying that all hands must be on deck to reduce the hardship faced by the victims as well as the danger posed by the influx of people to Ivrogbo.
The lawmaker commended steps taken so far by the state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, noting that the State Emergency Management Committee, headed by the state deputy governor, Prof. Amos Utuama, had earlier visited the communities.