Six people were feared dead, with over 400 houses and 700 farms submerged following a flood that wreaked havoc in 15 Cross River communities.
The flood, which resulted from a five-day downpour, affected the communities, destroying rice, yam, and cassava farms, as well as economic trees, household items, and schools worth millions of naira.
The heavy rain also affected economic activities and vehicular movements. In contrast, residents of the affected areas were seen evacuating their children to nearby neighbourhoods as well as removing household items to safer places.
Statistics collated by the local government authorities so far showed that the following communities were affected by the flood: Ogurude in Osopong ward I, Okimbogha village, Ogamana, Ofonekom, Idoru, Ofiabumted, Eja, Ijeghe ibum, and Ofonagama, Ogurokpon, Omen, Ebiem, and Okpechi.
Others are Araragha 1, Araragha 2 and Okokom communities in Ofunbogha-Yala ward.
The statistics have it that four lives were lost at Araragha 1 just as over 150 houses and 200 farms were affected in the three communities at Ofunbogha-Yala ward.
The statistics further showed that in the Ogurude community, 200 households were affected, over 200 farms were destroyed, and 151 houses were submerged, with two people feared dead.
Some of the community members, who spoke to Daily Sun, bemoaned their woes and blamed the flooding on incessant downpours for about five days running.
Lamenting, the former secretary of the Obubura local government area, Dr Charles Mfem, said the rain started on Sunday, August 14 without any respite.
Mfem, a University of Calabar lecturer, said: “We had this kind of rainfall 11 years ago, but this year has become a national disaster because about 15 communities were affected. We have lost all we have laboured for to flood.
“Following the disaster, there may be a possible rise in crime rate in the affected communities, including from commercial sex hawking by our young females and hunger amongst those living.
“We, therefore, call on the Nigerian government to quickly come to our plights by providing relief materials, including food items, clothing, building materials and cash to help ameliorate the suffering occasion by the disaster.”
In a telephone interview, the Obubra local government chairman, Mr Agara Tom Bàssey, confirmed the incident, saying: “We are still taking more statistics of what happened in my communities. When we are done, I will get back to you.”
