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Tag: Flood

  • Flooding: Imo Govt cautions against blockage of drains, damage of public facilities

    Flooding: Imo Govt cautions against blockage of drains, damage of public facilities

    The Imo state Government has cautioned residents of the state against activities capable of blocking the drainage systems, to avoid flooding.

    The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Oguwike Nwachuku, gave the warning in a statement in Owerri on  Thursday.

    He also said that the state government would deal desicively with anyone found to be destroying public facilities.

    The chief press secretary said it was an act of sabotage for residents to block the drains or destroy public facilities.

    ”The state government is not happy with the wanton blockage of drains ppk meant to ease flow of flood water within the capital city.

    ”This attitude has constantly led to an upsurge in the level of flooding within the state capital.

    ”In the face of harsh economic realities, public facilities cost a fortune to put in place. We should protect them,” he said.

    Nwachuku said that residents of the state should immediately clear the drains around them to ensure free flow of rain water,” he said.

    He said that government would prosecute anyone found to be setting back the wheel of development in Imo,  according to the law.

  • (PHOTOS) DSOB embarks on sensitisation tour of flood ravaged communities in Delta

    (PHOTOS) DSOB embarks on sensitisation tour of flood ravaged communities in Delta

     

    DSOB on Wednesday took sensitization to some parts of the state affected by the perennial flooding ravaging the Country which Delta State is having its fair share.

    Sensitization was on flood protocol, talking to residents in various locations across the state.

    Also, DTSG has inaugurated the flood management committee headed by Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Chief Patrick Ukah.

    We advised residents to move upland, clear drains for easy flow of water and prepare to move into state Government IDP camps in critically affected areas.

    See photos below:

  • FCT residents warned to respect flood alerts

    FCT residents warned to respect flood alerts

    The FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on Friday in Abuja warned Abuja residents against ignoring early flood warnings from the weather forecast agencies.

    The Director-General of FEMA, Alhaji Abba Idriss, issued the warning at the 2022 FEMA Annual Review and Preparedness Meeting with over 250 Local Divers, Community Vanguards, Flood Rescue Teams and 50 Town Criers.

    He said that the meeting was coming at a time when flood warnings from the weather forecast agencies, especially Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), are issuing serious flood alerts almost on a daily basis.

    Idriss said the rising water levels in the nation’s major rivers in the country – especially River Niger and River Benue – couple with the threats coming from the Lagdo dam in Cameroon are issues of great concern.

    Idriss emphasised the need for residents to abide and obey the early warning and would be issued out to them from time to time through the conventional and social media.

    According to him, as soon as the agency get flood early warning it will disseminate the information so that people will take advantage of that.

    He therefore urged residents to ensure that they get information about the way they will pass through before leaving their homes, offices and markets.

    “The reason why we call for this meeting is first to alert our local divers, volunteers, vanguards and town criers on the likelihood of flooding.

    “Secondly, is to call on the residents of the Federal Capital Territory to be on their alert as well that all is not well yet. We have to be watchful, we have to keep observing those environmental laws and we also have to abide by the building code.

    “FCT residents must also ensure that they don’t block drainages, avoid building on the waterways and also avoid driving on a running water. People shouldn’t undermine water they see on the road to think that they have high capacity vehicle that move on running water.”

    Earlier, Mrs Florence Wenegieme, the Director, Forecasting Response Mitigation of FEMA, explained that the event was organised to review with stakeholders especially the local divers, volunteers, vanguards, local emergency committee and town criers.

    Wenegieme expressed optimism that the meeting would help the agency to save lives and properties in the nation’s capital.

    “We call them three or four times annually to review all the activities; to reactivate them, to know that they should always be on standby because we want all hands to be on deck to mitigate flood and other disasters in the territory.

    “We have almost 600 volunteers, local divers, town criers. We are doing the meeting by representation, we call over 200 today and next meeting we will call another set of 200 persons again to make sure that we create the needed awareness in them.

    “We are training them on how to use use modern rescue equipment when somebody get drown in the river or in the wall,” she said.

    Also, the Director-General, Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), Mr Clement Nze, reiterated the resolve of the agency to deepen partnership with FEMA in coordinating issues around water and flooding.

    “I will say that we are aware of most of the activities of State Emergency Management Agency and out of all of them FEMA is on top in terms of being relevant on community development

    “We are delighted to associate ourselves with FEMA based on what we see on ground being done by the DG.

    “I want to urge the divers and vanguards, local emergency committee, town criers and flood rescue team to see their role as very important in tackling flood in FCT.”

    Similarly, the Director-General, NiMet, Prof. Mansur Matazu, also expressed willingness of the agency to deepen partnership with FEMA, adding that the agency has been very cooperative in emergency management.

    Represented by Mr Kamorudeen Alao, the Assistant General Manager, Hydro, Matazu said the partnership which was beyond the issue of downscaling would continue to grow stronger.

    On his part, the Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr Mustapha Ahmed, said the meeting was very critical to mitigating flood and other disasters in the FCT.

    Represented by Mr Agbor Etim, NEMA’s Principal Search and Rescue Officer, Ahmed said disaster management was all encompassing, adding that everybody need to be on board to help ensure effective disaster management.

  • Flood sacks over one million people in Kogi, Nassarawa, Niger, Benue as rising water level continues

    Flood sacks over one million people in Kogi, Nassarawa, Niger, Benue as rising water level continues

    Over one million people are estimated to have lost their homes as a result of the continued rise in water level across communities in Kogi, Niger, Nassarawa, and Benue states of the federation.

    TheNewsGuru reports that about 400,000 were estimated to have lost their homes to the phenomenon in eight Local Government Areas of Nassarawa State alone, with the state Emergency Management Agency admitting that over 361,000 are victims of flood.

    Climate experts and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) had released warning about the possibility of serious flooding in parts of Nigeria.

    NIMET and other climate bodies had also warned citizens living in flood – prone areas to relocate to higher grounds.

    Already, real trouble has set in in those states with many residents seen fleeing their homes because on Friday because of flooding has taken over many communities and homes which has rendered them homeless.

    Many farmers have also fled their homes as farmlands have been taken over by the overflown water level.

    Our Correspondent reports that several areas in Makurdi in Benue State metropolis and communities in Loko, Agatu and Guma local government areas have been taken over by the flood.

    Places such as parts of Wadata, Kutcha-Itebe, Gyado Villa, Ricemill and Wurukum among others around the banks of river Benue in Makurdi have also been affected.

    Some victims of the flood

    Benue state Commissioner of Water Resources and Environment, Dr Godwin Oyiwona, told journalists in Makurdi that the flood had risen to a level of 11.1m on the seasonal flood guage on river Benue.

    He recalled that in 2012 when the river overflew its banks, the level of the river had risen to 12m on the guage, adding that there was “real trouble.”

    Oyiwona said some residents are refusing to leave their homes but others have been evacuated to safer places.

    “Water level is increasing because of the increase in water level from the dam in Cameroun. We are encouraging people to leave the coastal areas to other safer areas.

    “As at today, we work everywhere to distill drainages in town as part of measures to contain the water.

    “We are going through the city and telling people to move. Some are moving, others are not moving. We are going round to tell people to come that we have place where they will be camped,” he said.

    Parts of Lokoja, the Kogi State Capital, Ibaji, Idah, Olamaboro, Omala, Kogi Local Government Areas are already suffering consequences with many homes already submerged in water.

  • Floods sack 200 households in Makurdi

    Floods sack 200 households in Makurdi

    Floods have devastated more than 200 households in Makurdi.

    Executive Secretary, Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Dr Emmanuel Shior, made the declaration in Makurdi on Wednesday at the monthly distribution of relief materials to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

    He listed affected parts of the Benue capital as Naka Road, Achusa Kucha Utebe, Gyado Villa, Judge’s Quarters Extension and parts of Nyiman among others.

    Shior noted that flooding was not this terrible in the state in the past.

    He assured that the state’s Committee on Floods had approved the expansion of selected camps in Makurdi, Guma and Logo to accommodate flood victims.

    He added that recent attacks on some communities in the state had resulted in the displacement of more than 400,000 people.

    He said the state government was catering to the victims and to refugees from Cameroon staying in Kwande Local Government Area of the state.

    He appealed to the Federal Government to assist as the burden was becoming cumbersome for the state government.

    Shior said assailants killed and maimed and also destroyed infrastructures such as markets, churches, and schools in communities attacked.

  • Flood: NEMA presents relief materials to victims in Katsina State

    Flood: NEMA presents relief materials to victims in Katsina State

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) presented relief materials to Katsina State on Thursday for distribution to victims of flooding in 13 of its 34 local government areas.

    The affected local government areas are Sabuwa, Funtua, Danja, Musawa, Kusada, Zango, Katsina, Batsari, Batagarawa, Safana Musawa, Kankara and Ingawa.

    Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar-Farouq made the presentation in Katsina.

    According to her the items include 3,000 bags each of rice, maize and beans, 100 kegs of (20-litre) vegetable oil and 200 cartons of seasoning cubes.

    Others are 300 bags of (20kg) iodised salt, 1,000 bags of cement, 100 (25kg) bags of 3-inch nails, 300 bundles of roofing sheets, 100 packets of zinc nails and 500 pieces of three-feet by six-feet mattresses.

    Also presented were 1,000 pieces of blankets, 5,000 pieces of nylon mats, 2,000 pieces of insecticide-treated mosquito nets, 4,000 pieces of Guinea brocade, 500 pieces of wax textile prints and 1,000 pieces of children’s wears.

    “These items are meant to complement the efforts of Katsina State government in providing immediate succour to victims and aid their speedy rehabilitation.

    “The items are not for sale and should not be sold,’’ the minister warned.

    She commended Gov. Aminu Masari for providing the first line of support to the victims and for constructing more culverts and drainages to address flooding.

    “We are also aware of personal donations made by individuals to provide immediate succour to those affected.

    “The public is reminded and encouraged to avoid practices that can block drainages and should communally participate to maintain them for sustained effectiveness,’’ She advised.

    Responding, Gov. Masari commended the minister and NEMA for providing the support, saying it would go a long way in reducing the challenges faced by victims.

    Represented by the Speaker of the state’s House of Assembly, Alhaji Tasi’u Maigari, the governor assured that government would not relent in efforts to improve peoples’ welfare.

    Fielding questions from newsmen, Director-General of NEMA, Alhaji Mustapha Habib-Ahmed, advised all states to set up local emergency committees to handle disaster management.

    He said the committees should work toward reducing disasters and called on residents to avoid dumping refuse in drainage channels so as to allow free flow of water.

  • Three siblings, four others killed in Lagos flood

    Three siblings, four others killed in Lagos flood

    National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has said that the flooding that occurred in Lagos last weekend claimed seven lives.

    Zonal Coordinator, South West, NEMA, Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, made the disclosure in a statement issued in Lagos on Wednesday.

    “The post-emergency phase assessment after the unprecedented rainfall of Friday, 8th July and Saturday, 9th July, 2022 has revealed that about seven people – three children of same parent and four adults – died.

    “About eight lives were also saved during the period, as a result of the flooding that was witnessed during the two-day continuous rainfall,” he said.

    Farinloye further stated that the three siblings who lost their lives were residing at a church building belonging to Mercy of Christ Apostolic Church, situated in an uncompleted building.

    He said that the siblings, Michael, 18; Elizabeth, 17 years and Timi, 14, were swept away while trying to relocate from their room to the main church structure.

    He said that the youngest child, Tmi, who was said to be asthmatic, while trying to climb the plank linking their room to the church building, slipped and was overpowered by the flood.

    The coordinator added that the remaining two, while trying to rescue their sibling, were also swept away by the flood.

    Farinloye said that the NEMA team, while on a condolence visit to the families, met with representatives of Progressive Community Development Area, who conducted the agency round the affected communities.

    “The bereaved parents were said to be somewhere, but the NEMA team had a brief meeting with the community leaders on the way forward.

    “An appeal was made to them that for the rest of the year, the community must embark on awareness and sensitisation on safe actions, to avoid the situation that they experienced during the period.

    “The community leaders also informed NEMA that in the same community, four siblings were also swept away on the same day, but that the community members rallied round and rescued all of them,” Farinloye said.

    He listed the flooded communities as: Oke Isagun, Agbado Oke, Oko LCDA, all in Alimosho LGA.

    The NEMA chief said that members of the Progressive CDA briefed NEMA that rainwater from Meiran, Abbatoir, Alagbado, Agege and Toll gate converged in their community.

    Farinloye also gave an update on the flood at Oyatoki in Orile Agege, saying that two people died, while four were rescued.

  • Flash flood damages houses, vehicles in Lagos

    Flash flood damages houses, vehicles in Lagos

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) says a flash flood caused by downpour on Sunday damaged several houses and vehicles in some parts of the Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State.

    NEMA also advised residents and motorists in the area to exercise outmost caution as some electric poles fell due to the downpour.

    Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, Acting Zonal Coordinator, South West Zonal Office, NEMA, gave the advice in a statement he issued in Lagos.

    He said the downpour affected Oko Oba, Ekoro, Akowonjo, Egbeda and Ekoro axis.

    Farinloye said: “Rainfall that started around 1.20 p.m has led to flash flooding which affected many buildings and disrupted normal activities in many communities.

    “The water overflowing from the canal entered into residential houses. Several houses were affected and the enumeration cannot be done today. ”

    Farinloye also disclosed that Ikeja Electric Plc has been contacted to isolate the areas were electricity poles fell down to prevent electrocution.

    “Motorists are advised to exercise utmost cautions as the traffic gridlock is terrible due to every motorist trying to access the junction at the same.

    “Upon assessment about 25 vehicles were found to have their engines affected with floodwaters and the owners have been advised to avoid driving the vehicles.

    “As at now, there is no report of loss of life,” he added.

    The Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMet) had on Aug. 25 warned of flash floods in 34 states, including Lagos.

  • Photos: Flood hits popular Abuja Estate, three killed, properties destroyed

    Photos: Flood hits popular Abuja Estate, three killed, properties destroyed

    At least three persons have been killed after a downpour in Trademore Estate, Lugbe District, Abuja.

    The Director-General of the FCT Emergency Management Agency, Mr Abbas Idris confirmed the incident on Monday morning.

    Residents of the area, however, insist that there are more fatalities.

    Several cars were also swept away by the flood following the downpour on Sunday night.

    Trademore Estate has been in the news for flooding. Last year, one person died in the area after a downpour.

    Meanwhile residents of the estate whose properties were destroyed have cried to government to come to their aid. The residents explained that it will be difficult to move on without government and other well meaning Nigerians’ assistant going by the mass destruction that the flood has inflicted on them.

  • Flash floods kill 44 in New York, New Jersey, others

    Flash floods kill 44 in New York, New Jersey, others

    Flash flooding killed at least 44 people in U.S. four Northeastern states as remnants of Hurricane Ida unleashed torrential rains that swept away cars, submerged New York City subway lines and grounded airline flights.

    Across large swaths of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut, residents spent the day coping with water-logged basements, power outages, damaged roofs and calls for help from friends and family members stranded by flooding.

    At least 13 people lost their lives in New York City, along with three in suburban Westchester County.

    New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said in a tweet at least 23 people from that state had perished in the storm.

    Among the fatalities, three people were found dead in a basement in the New York City borough of Queens, while four residents of Elizabeth, New Jersey, died at a public housing complex flooded by 8 feet (2.4 m) of water.

    Roadways were transformed into river-like torrents in minutes as the downpours struck on Wednesday night, trapping drivers in quickly rising floodwaters. Scores of vehicles were found abandoned on area roadways Thursday. In Somerset County, New Jersey, at least four motorists were killed, officials said.

    Flights in, out of New York canceled; state of emergency declared

    A victim in Maplewood Township, New Jersey, was swept away while he was apparently trying to remove debris from storm drains in the area, police said.

    “Sadly, more than a few folks have passed as a result of this,” Murphy said at a briefing in Mullica Hill in the southern part of the state, where a tornado ripped apart several homes.

    The National Weather Service confirmed two tree-snapping tornadoes also struck Maryland on Wednesday, one in Annapolis and another Baltimore. A 19-year-old was reported to have died after trying to rescue his mother from a flooded apartment in Rockville, Maryland, according to the Washington Post.

    The damage came three days after Ida, one of the most powerful hurricanes ever to strike the U.S. Gulf Coast, made landfall on Sunday in Louisiana, destroying entire communities.

    But the loss of life in the Northeast dwarfed the confirmed storm-related death toll of nine in Louisiana.

    In Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, outside Philadelphia, the Schuylkill River inundated hotels, warehouses and condominiums that line the river. Emergency squads were waiting for the waters to recede on Thursday before starting evacuations of possibly hundreds of people who live in nearby apartments, officials said.

    Four people died in suburban Philadelphia as a result of the storm, according to county spokesperson Kelly Cofrancisco. And a Connecticut state trooper perished after his cruiser was swept away in floodwaters in the town of Woodbury early Thursday, state police said.