A devastating flood has affected some major roads and streets in the Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State, following torrential rainfall on Friday.
The flood, it was gathered, wreaked havoc as the rainfall continued on Friday, disrupting economic activities as people were unable to commute to various destinations in the town.
Major roads in the ancient town, such as Erinje area, Ogungbo junction, and Ode Etikan, which had no drainage, were reportedly affected by the flood.
The situation was also not different from some parts of the Ereke, Ayetitun, and Temidire areas, which were partly submerged, creating traffic gridlocks across the town’s commercial nerve centre.
The flood also hit the major road leading to the residence of the chairman of the local government, Andrew Ogunsakin.
A legal practitioner and resident of Okitipupa, Wale Omolegbon Odusola, shared a short video of the flooded roads
Some residents, who spoke to our reporter, however, attributed the flooding to the blockage of waterways and the refusal to construct a proper drainage system on the roads.
One of the residents, Adeleye Ibukun, explained that his residence had been submerged by the flood, lamenting that the situation had hindered him from assessing his compound.
According to Ibukun, the flood was due to improper channeling of flood water that led to blockage and building on drainage rights of ways in the town
“It’s devastating as I speak with you. The whole place is flooded. We can’t even access the roads. Everywhere is full of water, and people cannot pass through to their houses.
“The problem is a result of improper channeling of the water drainage system on the major streets. Most of the houses were constructed without drainage. It’s sad right now,” he said.
Another resident, Seyi Awoyemi Ige, who also lamented the absence of a functional drainage system, urged the Ondo State government to rescue the residents of the town before things got out of hand.
“I can’t access my house. Even those who have cars are stranded due to the flood. I have to rely on commercial motorcycles because the road leading to my house is currently cut off from the major road due to the flood.
Contacted, Ogunsakin said: “The secretary of the local government has visited the affected areas and we are already making an intervention,” he told our reporter.”
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