Not fewer than 10 communities ravaged by torrential downpour in Esit Eket Local Government Area have sent a desperate save our soul (SOS) message to the Federal and State Government to rescue them from being washed away by flood.
This was the unanimous appeal of the spokespersons of the respective communities affected by the four days downpour that submerged residential buildings, bridges, farmlands, crops and classroom blocks.
The gully erosion of 1.54 meters deep may soon engulf the highway, while another gully erosion site at Ikpa has developed into a ravine with the one at Uquo, claiming five lives including school children in the last few days.
They communities expressed their feeling when the Esit Eket Council boss, Deacon Ibanga Etang led council officials on an on-the-spot assessment of the devastation caused by the heavy downpour which he said, had reached an alarming proportion.
He described the extent of damage as devastating and unusual in recent years, noted, “It baffles me that areas that have never experience floor have buildings submerged with water up to window level”.
Etang was particular about the official residential quarters of the council that a section of the parameter fence was pulled down, making way for the estate to be completely flooded. This necessitates resident to relocate to safer locations.
According to him, the extent of devastation in the area exceeds the budget of the council. He therefore called on the Federal and State Government to assist the council resettles the victims who now take refuge in public buildings, churches and with relatives.
The council helmsman lamented the unhygienic conditions in the buildings occupied by the victims and expressed fear of imminent outbreak of cholera, dysentery and other water borne diseases.
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