It was a tragic moment for family and friends of a couple in Imo State, when a pastor and wife were swept away by flood and drowned in Oguta after Monday’s downpour. The Imo/Abia operations head of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Evans Ugoh, who confirmed the incident, recalled warning seven flood-prone communities in the area to evacuate from their homes because of the early warning signs the agency had received, following the unusual rise in sea level of the affected places.

The flood swept away some homes and farmlands in Oguta, the headquarters of Oguta Local Government Area (LGA) of Imo. The NEMA official who did not disclose the identities of the deceased couple blamed the incident on the alleged neglect of the agency’s earlier warning. He said that the agency gave evacuation notice early enough but regretted that it was ignored by the community.

He named the seven flood-prone communities as Ossemotto, Oguta, Eziorsu, Orsuobodo, Opuowa, Mmahu and Etekwuru. “Communities must be alert and always monitor the movement of sea in their area and report same to the agency promptly for immediate action. Residents in the area must be ready to quit to avoid major casualties should there be any flooding,” he warned.

•Excerpted from The Guardian report