3,000 Homeless As Flood Destroys 175 Houses In Cross River

The State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), has said at least 3,000 people have been rendered homeless and 175 houses destroyed following a massive flood in Cross River State.

 

John Inaku, Director General of SEMA said this on Thursday, during the update on flood situation in the state, NAN reported.

 

The DG said the flood had seriously affected the victims, adding that most of them had since relocated to upper lands for safety.

 

He said: “Cross River has always been affected by flood during the raining season. Currently, we have more than 175 houses destroyed and as a result, more than 3,000 persons have been displaced.

 

“This menace has greatly affected farming activities, especially in Boki, Yala and a few others areas.”

 

However, no life was lost to the flood.

 

He said the agency had embarked on aggressive campaign, to sensitise residents in the state on the need to stop dumping refuse on drainage, and building along water channels.

 

He explained that the flood had affected residents in Boki, Ogoja, Yala, Calabar Municipality, Calabar South and other local government areas in the state.

 

Listing the flooded areas in Calabar to include, Muritala Mohammed Highway, Ebito, Murray, Target and Nelson Mandela, Atu, Yellow Duke, Parliamentary, Efiote roundabout and Mayne Avenue streets, he appealed to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and corporate organisations to assist the state with relief materials for the victims.