Property worth hundreds of millions was destroyed over the weekend following a devastating flood that wreaked havoc in Ondo town, headquarters of Ondo West Local Government of Ondo State.
The flood, which was caused by several hours of rain, affected various parts of the ancient community, leaving commuters stranded.
The affected parts were Ita-Nla, Lipakala Road, Oluwabamikole, Oke-Odunwo, Odojomu, Gani Fawehinmi, Bethlehem, Oke-Idera, Iranlowo, Ife Garage/St. Andrews, Ife Road, and Iluyemi, among others.
With houses, shops, vehicles, and other valuables submerged by the flood, residents of the affected areas lamented that there were no adequate measures to prevent the disaster as the drainage systems and canals had been filled with dirt.
A resident, who gave his name as Kunle, said, “Residents, especially shop owners, were badly affected. We thank God nobody was swept away or died.”
Meanwhile, the state government disclosed that it had ordered the evacuation of the affected areas, and a rapid response had begun in order to halt further damage.
Sympathising with the people of Ondo City and the traditional ruler, the Osemawe of Ondo, the state government maintained that the necessary machinery had been put in place to avert the possible flood as predicted by NIMET.
In a statement by the Commissioner for Environment, Oyeniyi Oseni, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa ordered that the dredging of the canals be intensified and that developers building on canals be sanctioned.
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