Thick deposits of water hyacinth that had grown on the Anambra River had reportedly posed difficulties in the attempt to evacuate people in six communities in Anambra East and Anambra West local government areas of Anambra State whose areas have been flooded.
It was gathered that the water hyacinth, which covers a stretch of about 40 nautical miles on the Ezichi /Oda River waterway, affected Eziagulu Otu Aguleri, Mmiata Anam, Umuoba, Abegbu Anam, Iyiora Anam and Umueze Anam and the people are finding it extremely difficult to leave the area. Following the development, engine boats and canoes, which serve as the means of transportation in the area no longer sail freely, forcing the people to send Save Our Soul, SOS, to the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, and the State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, to assist in clearing the waterways to ensure easy evacuation.
Though SEMA had earlier urged the people to leave the area after teaching them the warning signs, the people stayed put to harvest their crops and were eventually caught up by the menacing water hyacinth, which they said, grew so fast in the area in the past few days. Worried by the development, the Anambra State Association of Town Unions, ASATU, at its meeting in Awka, called on NEMA and SEMA to come to the aid of the people to enable them relocate to the upland areas of the state. National President of ASATU, Dr Jap Okolo said the affected people could not come out because of the inability of their boats to move on the weeds.
