By Vincent Ujumadu

Awka—MANY residents in Awka, Anambra State capital, have been counting their losses, following the destruction of their property by flood during a down pour that lasted several hours.

Some streets, especially at Ifite area and parts of Government Reserved Area, GRA, of the city, were heavily flooded, such that residents in those areas, who were out of their houses before the rain began, were unable to walk or drive to their houses.

Youths, who could brave it, ferried women on their backs across for a fee, while those who were afraid to enter the flood slept in the houses of their friends in the safer areas of their streets.

A primary school on Muodozie Street, which was recently constructed close to flood channel, was pulled down by the heavy flood and its roof and concrete walls scattered on the streets in the vicinity.

Some cars that got stuck in the flood were abandoned till morning, when towing vans were used to remove them.

A civil engineer, Mr. Nwabufor Onyeakalusi, attributed the flooding to the building of houses close to flood channels, thereby blocking the free flow of water.

According to him, many of the houses that caused the flood were initially marked ‘stop work’ by officials of Anambra State Urban Development Board, ASUDB, only for construction to continue after money exchanged hands.

He said: “Some people in this area, whose lands are close to the flood channel, decided to narrow the channels to gain more land and this habit created problem in the area.

“The only solution to the problem is for the authorities to pull down all the buildings built close to the flood channels, otherwise the problem will worsen.”