No fewer than seven persons, including a pregnant woman, have died in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra, Southeast Nigeria, as a result of flood.
The flood has ravaged the area, located on the bank of River Niger, for about six weeks with populations taking refuge in relief camps.
The woman, Chinwe Chukwurah, 25, who was taking refuge at Odekpe Displaced Persons Camp, had a stillbirth before her death, according to an official.
Mr Arinze Awogu, Transition Chairman of Ogbaru Government, said the woman was moved to a nearby private hospital for delivery on Saturday and a cesarean section was done on her.
Arinze said the woman died shortly after the operation in spite of efforts by the camp manager, Mr Udoka Chukwurah, and described the incident as unfortunate.
.He said two persons died from electrocution as power installation in the area was submerged and many electric poles fell and posed grave danger to the public.
He said the sewage burst open and waste dumps over flowed with visible spillage of human waste.
He urged the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company to cut off supply to prevent more fatalities.
“We just lost a pregnant woman and her baby at Odekpe Displaced persons Camp.
“It is a bad situation in our hands right now at Odekpe Camp, a heavily pregnant woman was moved to a nearby hospital, Lumen Christi, for delivery.
“CS was carried out and the baby was brought out dead and the woman later gave up, it is a sad one for us right here,” he said.
The camp.manager said six other persons had earlier drowned, including a 30-year-old, Justin Nwobuobi, and two years old Okwuchukwu Chinaza, who both died in Ossamala on October 2 and October 11 respectively.
He said 68 years old Felicia Ossai died in Atani community and Uwabunkeonye Godwin from Ugiri, Isialambano in Imo State, but resident in Mputu in the area, also died.
He identified other victims as Adam Ojeli, 47, and Ekene Nwagbo, 11, who died in Odepke.
Awogu renewed the call for people in flood prone areas to vacate and go to relief camps.
He appealed to the federal and state governments to equip the camps with necessary facilities such as clinics, potable water and food.
He described the situation in Ogbaru as dangerous with the possibility of an epidemic outbreak.
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