Flood hits Abakaliki Residents

''Residents of Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital woke up on Thursday to flooding of some parts of the city following heavy overnight downpour. The flood which affected both residential and commercial buildings is believed to have been caused by the overflowing of the Iyiudele and Iyiokwu rivers. Our reporter who went round the city observed that one of the biggest hotels in the city, Salt Lake was affected by the flood as its premises and club house were flooded. Hope High International Schools located along Onwe Road Abakaliki and G-spot, a popular relaxation centre adjacent the school, both owned by wife of the first civilian governor of the state, Mrs Eunice Ukamaka Egwu were also affected. The management of the school was also forced to close down the school temporarily as parents and their children were seen going back home with them following the management’s decision. Members of Christ Embassy and House on the Rock Church which makes use of the multipurpose halls inside the relaxation centre spot were seen literarily swimming through the flood water to get to the church to try and salvage some of their equipments. Also, parts of the international market being built by the state government were also flooded. Some residents of the city blamed the flooding to blocking of the canal being constructed by the federal ministry of environment to channel excess water from the two rivers. Ebonyi State Commissioner for Environment, Engr. Paul Okorie, who described the situation as unfortunate blamed the flooding on inability of the contractors to complete the channelization contract.''     

Source: thenation