20 houses submerged, over 100 persons displaced

 Flood has again ravaged Target-Goldie and Mayne Avenue axes  of Calabar metropolis in Cross River State, submerging no fewer than 20 houses and displacing about 100 persons.The incident, which occurred following a three-hour downpour yesterday morning, resulted in most parts of the city being flooded. Areas affected by the flood included Goldie, Target, Ebito, Gibson, Murray, Nelson Mandella, Bassey Edem and Eselfi axes, all within Calabar South. Some parts of Atu Street, Yellow Duke and Palm Streetss in Calabar South Local Government area were also submerged. The flood did not only destroy valuable household items and goods worth several millions of naira, it also sacked the residents from their houses and rendered them homeless. Electrical, electronics and furniture shops located along the drainage channel were completely destroyed as the area was over-flown with water. This is the fourth time this year rains have wreaked havoc in the affected areas. Calabar metropolis experienced downpour that caused damage to  the property of residents in April, May and June. When Daily Sun visited Goldie-Target area, some of the residents affected were seen trying to salvage some of their household items, while their children were seen scooping water from their houses. Some of the victims told Daily Sun that they were not taken by surprise as they were used to it. A few said they were taken by surprise as many of them were away for early morning worship when the flood came and unfortunately much could not be salvaged out of their household property. They blamed the flooding on the inability of government to find a permanent solution to the perennial problem. One of the flood victims, Mr. Daniel Ogbonna, 48, said the heavy rains did not take them unawares. He said they were used to the situation and had been coping because the area was the centre of their activities. Ogbonna, a furniture maker, who had operated at No. 48 Tatget Road for over 10 years, said: “What you have seen here is just small because there were some years we faced flooding menace for over a week. For us in the furniture business, we cannot leave this axis because it is the centre of furniture business in Cross River and everybody patronises us.” The Director General, Cross River State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Mr. Vincent Aquah, could not be reached for comments. It would, however, be recalled that the agency had earlier in the year warned residents of the development. The agency also warned residents to avoid dumping of refuse in drainage and comply with the specifications laid down by the government.

Again, flood wreaks havoc in Calabar metropolis