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Flood update: death toll rises to four as NELG Council, communities evacuate victims
Flood update: death toll rises to four as NELG Council, communities evacuate victims
…plead for more assistance from Nigerians, Ndokwa sons and daughters.
The death toll in the ravaging effect of flood in Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta State has increased to 4 as the Local Government chieftains and communities’ leaders seek assistance from Nigerians to stem the dastardly act.
The Local Government Chairman said the LGA and community leaders have have worked hard to evacuate as many as possible from the flood-ridden areas.
In a statement signed by the Local Government Chairman, Juan Amechee Governor, the the communities call for more stringent safety precautionary measures and everyone must look out for each other especially during the peak period of the flooding because according to him, the water levels keep increasing by the day and the current of the water is tripping by the day as well.
“We regret to announce that the death tolls due to the flood situation in NELGA have gone up to four as at the time of this press release. You will recall that we had earlier announced the death of a lady from Akarai and that of a young boy from Otuoku. Yesterday we got a report of another two deaths resulting from the flood; one is a lady from Okpai and the other is a young man from Onuabor. Thus the number of lives lost as a result of the flood has risen to four now. Please let’s remember them, their family and friends in our prayers.
“While commiserating with the families we want to reemphasize the importance of safety at this challenging period. Two of the deaths (the woman from Okpai and the young man from Onuabor) are reportedly as a result of canoe incidents while the young boy from Otuoku was reportedly carried away by the floods while walking in a current driven mass of water. The woman from Akarai reportedly took ill from the cold of harvesting farm produce in her flooded farmland and due to the flood, medical attention was not available and a boat to take her out did not arrive on time; by the time they finally got a boat her condition was already out of hand and she was being transported from Akarai to Aboh for medical attention, she gave up the ghost in the boat on the middle of the river.
“The situation calls for more stringent safety precautionary measures and everyone must look out for each other especially during this peak period of the flooding because the water levels keep increasing by the day and the current of the water is tripling by the day as well.
“Everyone should continue to encourage our people to put “SAFETY FIRST”; Avoid overloading; ensure you use life jacket during travel period; Avoid low spots, like ditches, basements, or underpasses; Do not walk through flooded areas; If you have to walk in water, wherever possible, walk where the water is not moving; Do not drive into flooded areas; Do not touch electrical equipment if you are wet or standing in water; Know the weather; Let your people know about any trip you are embarking on, before your journey, during the trip and post arrival. Let’s PUT SAFETY FIRST, after God in all we do now and going forward.
“Information reaching us indicates that the IDP Camp at Kwale has taken off at Utagba Ogbe Technical College and some of NELGA displaced people from Okpai and Beneku are already registering there. We are also aware that some of our displaced people from ward Iyede Ame, Lagos Iyede and other ward 9 communities are equally registered at the camps in Oleh and Ozoro. The NELGA Flood Committee will be visiting these camps to ascertain the number of households from NELGA that are registered in the various camps for our updates and records.
“Although we have recorded high numbers of evacuation from our communities within the past twenty four hours due to the flood increase, we want to remind everyone of the earlier identified immediate needs by our people that was captured in our earlier press release which includes but not limited to Foodstuff, Mosquito Nets, Portable Water (Sachets or bottled), Toiletries (Soaps, Detergents etc., Medications, especially malaria.
“We encourage all meaning Nigerians, especially Ndokwa Sons and daughters all over the world to remember us in your prayers as we wade through this period of natural disaster. In the same regard, we will appreciate any form of assistance from all of us to help our displaced people in need.”
On the extent of damage so far, the committees’ reports stated that the flood level has taken a different toll with more impact on the communities across the LGA.
