As most Coastal and riverine states in Nigeria including Delta State grapple with flood menace, the Flood level along the Benin Asaba-Onitsha highway has continued to rise on a daily basis.
AIT in this report used some particular flood flash points of the capital city Asaba and its environs for three different days as observatories to showcase flood intensification levels in the identified areas.
A week ago, with the aid of a wooden bridge people were able to access this flooded road that leads to OKO community. Four days after , a chunk of the bridge has already been submerged leaving just one end.
Residents were seen trying to salvage what was left of their property on the shores of the flooded area. Thier only means of moving in and out of their homes is with a canoe.
One of the displaced Persons expressed his frustration
The last visit however, showed that the wooden bridge has succumbed to the flood pressure including the shores where the victims kept their salvaged property.
Also read: Flood kills 24, destroys 16,625 houses so far in Katsina State
Initial report showed that yam stakes here were above the submerged farm but the narrative has changed in the latest visit. There was no trace of the yam stakes any longer.
Same is applicable to a motor park here. The flood is fast moving towards the highway.
This is OKO market, situated along the Asaba-Onitsha highway. The traders were sacked by flood forcing them to resort to using the highway as their makeshift trading point with its attendant risks.
Trucks that brought their goods were all stranded as the market and its parking lots were submerged. The trucks ended their journey along the highway apparently waiting for the flood to abate.
River Niger end of Anwai-Illah axis has also overflown its Bank and emptied into the road. Only articulated vehicles could dare plying the axis.
An overview of the Asaba capital territory from a higher level, showed that its coastal areas were overrun by flood waters even as the flood continues to advance towards the Asaba-Onitsha highway.
(Editor: Nkoli Omhoudu)
