…NEMA, military begin SAR operation to airlift trapped flood victims in Anambra***
The driver of the boat that capsized at Ogbaru in Anambra on Friday, Mr Desmond Amugo, says he had 48 passengers on board and not 85 passengers as was being reported.
Amugo made the assertion on Sunday at Atani, headquarters of Ogbaru Local Government Area while briefing government officials on the circumstances that led to the accident.
Nine passengers have been seen alive, while 20 corpses have been recovered so far from the accident. 10 of the corpses were recovered on Sunday.
The driver said the majority of the passengers he had on board were women and children trying to escape from their flooded communities.
Amaugo explained that he sailed into a heavy wave that affected the smooth operation of the boat and resulted in it hitting one of the pillars supporting the Umunnakwe/Ossomala Bridge.
He said his spirited efforts to manoeuvre away from danger were unsuccessful as he lost control of the boat before it capsized.
The driver also said some of the women had besieged his house very early on Friday and persuaded him to ferry them to Ogbakuba, another location that was not submerged by flood.
Family members who identified some of the corpses were seen lamenting their losses.
One of them, Mr Bernard Achonu said he lost his wife and three children aged between six years and two years.
“My wife and the children were moving to a safe place because our house was already submerged,’’ he said.
In his remarks, Chief Paul Odenigbo, Executive Secretary of Anambra State Emergency Management Agency told the newsmen that the search for more victims was still ongoing.
He said that only nine persons survived the accident even as about 20 corpses have been recovered so far.
“When this kind of accident occurs, it usually takes little time before the dead bodies start to float; we hope that once that happens, all the remaining bodies will be recovered,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, an already flooded worship place located in a primary school at Iyiowa- Odekpe collapsed on Sunday.
Chief Peter Okala, a resident told newsmen that many buildings in the area were already submerged.
“As I speak with you, many buildings in Odekpe are covered by water including my house, the worship place and many other structures.
“The ground floors of most of the buildings are already covered by water and several people are passing through harrowing experiences.
“Let Gov. Chukwuma Soludo and the relevant Federal Government agencies come to our help because with more rains, the situation will deteriorate,’’ he said.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and the Disaster Response Unit (DRU) of the Military has commenced an Aerial view operation to ascertain persons displaced or trapped by the rising floods in Anambra.
Mr Thickman Tanimu, the Zonal Coordinator of NEMA, South-East, told the newsmen on Monday in Awka, that it would aid the airlifting of trapped persons in the affected communities.
“Search and Rescue (SAR Operations) has commenced today.
The Military DRU has engaged and has started ‘Air Recce’ or Aerial view to collect imagery intelligence of the affected communities.
“This will help to ascertain displaced and trapped persons who need to be evacuated to pave the way for airlifting,” he said.
Tanimu said that the Presidency and the Director-General of NEMA, Mustapha Ahmed-Habib while commiserating with the state government and flood victims including the bereaved, approved the relief materials.
He said that the relief materials would be presented directly to flood victims on Tuesday.
“The delay in the arrival of the relief materials is due to the flood disaster that cut off the Abuja – Lokoja road and also the security situation due to the Monday sit-at-home in the South East.
“The relief material will hopefully arrive on Tuesday and be ready for delivery directly to victims.
“These items are meant to complement the efforts of Anambra State Government in providing immediate succour to victims and aid their speedy rehabilitation,” he said.
