Flood Takes Anambra Tricycle Driver and Woman

A tricycle driver has been swept away by flood while trying to save a woman during heavy rain at Miracle Junction, Ifite Road, in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The incident happened on Monday night. Eyewitnesses say the driver, who is thought to be in his 40s, was trying to help the woman who was stuck in the flood.

Reports say the man lost his footing while trying to reach her and was carried away by the strong floodwaters along with her.

On Tuesday morning, the lifeless body of the tricycle driver was found in a flood channel near Book Foundation, not far from Miracle Junction. As of the time of this report, the woman’s location is still unknown.

An eyewitness named Kelvin shared his experience. He said, “As the rain raged last night (Monday) with heavy thunderstorms, we stepped out to our balcony and saw that our fence had fallen onto an SUV parked inside the compound.

“From the balcony, we saw two women walking beside the rushing floodwaters. One of them lost her footing and got trapped in the flood, starting to be swept away.

“The other woman tried to save her, but the one she was helping was crying out for help under the rain. The tricycle driver went down the road to help, but when he reached them, the powerful flood carried both of them away.

“It was heartbreaking. Neighbours heard their cries for help until their voices suddenly stopped. It was this morning that we found the tricycle driver’s body in the flood channel.

“Even though we found the driver’s body, no one knows where the woman is.”

When PUNCH Metro visited the area on Tuesday, residents said security personnel had come to retrieve the body. Government officials also arrived to assess the situation and find possible risks.

One resident said the heavy rain and thunderstorms caused major damage in the area, including tearing off roofs and fences.

The resident added, “The heavy rain, along with thunderstorms, destroyed rooftops of many buildings and caused other damages.

“Some government officials came to the area this morning and said they would do a thorough assessment to find out how much damage has been done and to make sure nothing is dangerous.”

A government official at the scene, who did not want to be named, said they have started an investigation to find the missing woman and to check if blocked drainage channels made the flooding worse.

The official expressed sadness over the event and urged residents to be careful during rain. She noted that blocked drains can increase flooding in the area.

She advised residents to stop throwing waste in drainage channels and rivers and to regularly clear the drains around their homes and businesses.

She warned that throwing waste carelessly and other bad habits could lead to more flooding and cause disasters during heavy rains.