Flood overruns Warri, victims cry over losses

The Oil City of Warri in Delta State, was on Friday September 6, overran by flood, following the rains that fell for most part of Thursday afternoon and night, till Friday morning.

Hon. Daniel Alidu (left) Hon. (Dr.) Michael Tidi (3^rd left) Hon. Griftson Omatsuli (3^rd right) & others during the inspection of flood ravaged area in Warri

Areas affected included large expanse of Ekurede-Itsekiri Community, Ubeji Community, Ugbori Community, Olomu Street, Ighorue Street, Okumagba Avenue, Okumagba Estate, Ode-Kporo Quarters Okere, Ginuwa, Esisi, Upper Erejuwa and Swamp Roads.

Flood ravaged Ekurede-Itsekuri Community Road down to Olu Palace, Warri

Worst hit was Ekurede-Itsekiri Community, where residential houses, shops, undeveloped plots and business premises, were literarily  submerged, leaving some inhabitants of the densely populated community trapped in their various homes, as they tried to rescue some of their belongings.

Another submerged part of Ekurede-Itsekiri off NPA bybass Warri

Observers were worried that should the prediction of heavy rains cum flood for the months of September and October by NIMET, becomes reality, then major parts of Warri would be totally submerged.

Submerged building at Ekurede-Itsekiri, Warri

Some residents of Ekurede-Itsekiri trapped by the flood

A team comprising Chairman of Warri South Local Government Area, Dr. Michael Tidi and the Commissioner representing Itsekiri Ethnic Nationality in the Board of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, Hon. Griftson Omatsuli, which went round Warri to ascertain the extent of the flood, identified causes of the flood to include blocked drains, indiscriminate dumping of wastes and erection of structures on natural water-ways.

Flooded Shell Contractors road by Eagle Roundabout

Hon. Omatsuli & Dr. Tidi (right) during the flood inspection around Warri at Ogunu Road by Eagle Roundabout

Chairman of Warri South Local Government Area, Dr. Michael Tidi, while reacting to the flood situation, stated that the political will to tackle the flood was not lacking in the state government as the Okowa administration had previously set up a committee to tackle the problem.

Dr. Tidi & Hon. Omatsuli entering Olomu street to inspect the flood affected streets

Dr. Tidi advised those directly affected by the flood to seek temporary abodes with their relatives as efforts were on going to address the flood headlong.

Hon. Griftson Omatsuli on his part, assured that the management of DESOPADEC, will immediately deploy materials with a view to opening up blocked drains and water channels, so as to mitigate the situation.       

Flooded ravaged filling station at Airport Road Okumagba, near Olomu Street, Warri

Hon. Dr. Tidi, Hon. Omatsuli & other Warri South Council officials inspecting blocked drainage by Okere Bridge, Warri

Blocked major drainage channel by Okere Bridge Okere Road, Warri

Building blocking one of the natural water root at Upper Erejuwa near Nigeria Prisons Warri

Some victims at their flooded buildings at Ekurede-Itsekiri, Community, Warri

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