Ravaging floods have sacked more communities in Abua/Odual, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni (Onelga), and Ahoada-West local government areas of Rivers State.

The Guardian gathered that the flood has covered access roads to farmlands, destroying crops, livestock, and displacing over 500 persons in communities in the Orashi region.

It was gathered that communities like Idu, Ogbidi, Ikwuzi, and Omoku in Onelga Council were hard hit by the floods.

Similarly, in Okolomade in Odual community in Abua/Odual Local Council, the residents lamented great loss over their inability to access their farmlands due to the high level of flooding.

One of the flood victims, Alice Anayo, told The Guardian, that the flood came suddenly this year though flooding in the area (Orashi region) has been a yearly occurrence without permanent solutions.”

She said, “I live in Port Harcourt with my husband, but I have a large cassava farm in Okolomade community, which is my hometown. So when I heard about the flood, I decided to go home to harvest my cassava. But unfortunately, I couldn’t get any canoes to access the farm road because the wooden canoes we used last time have been stolen.

“The area where my farm is is not yet flooded, but the access road to the farm has been covered with flood. As I speak now, my cassava is on the farm, the flood rate is increasing, and there is no succour. I am so depressed and worried, seeing my sweat and money ravaged by flood.”

Another flood victim in Onelga, Emmanuel, said the floods occurred close to the harvest season. He expressed worry that this could escalate problems of food scarcity among residents.

Also, one of the displaced persons in Onelga, Chinyere Amadi, said she managed to flee her submerged Idu Obosiukwu community with her children. She said the water came so fast and is concerned about the health of her children.

Some residents in Ahoada-West, for over one month, have also been displaced by the ravaging flood. Others who stayed behind have also been sacked by the increasing flood, which is almost at roof level. Residents now move with wooden canoes.

Meanwhile, the state government confirmed that it has set up a flood committee, but findings show that intensive efforts are not being put in to salvage the growing challenges of flooding across the state.

For instance, some communities in the Orashi region, including Onelga, Abua/Odual, and Ahoada-West, lamented a shortage of Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps and palliatives.

Speaking, the State Commissioner for Environment, Sydney Gbara, said IDP camps have been set up and promised that the flood committee will work with the local government councils to ensure that the impacts of the flood are mitigated.