A university undergraduate has died after floodwater swept the vehicle she was travelling in with her father into a drainage channel in Asaba, Delta State. The incident occurred on Monday at Okotimi Layout, behind the Asaba Specialist Hospital, following heavy rainfall in the area.
According to reports, the victim and her father were travelling in a Toyota Corolla when floodwater reportedly overwhelmed the road and pushed the vehicle into a drainage channel. The victim, who was seated in the front of the car, reportedly called for help before she was swept away by the floodwater. Her father was rescued and taken to a hospital for medical attention.
The Delta State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), under the Ministry of Bureau for Special Duties, subsequently commenced a search operation for the missing undergraduate. Commissioner for the Bureau of Special Duties, Ejiro Terry Etacherure, said the agency engaged divers in the search, which continued for two days.
The search ended on Wednesday after boat operators around the Otogwu River axis of Anwai Road alerted SEMA to a floating body. According to Etacherure, a family member was contacted and identified the body as that of the missing undergraduate. An ambulance from the Asaba Specialist Hospital subsequently conveyed the remains to the hospital morgue.
Meanwhile, residents have raised concerns over the condition of the drainage channel, saying the incident was not the first time vehicles had been swept into the canal during heavy rainfall. An eyewitness said vehicles, including a Mercedes-Benz GLK and a Lexus, had previously fallen into the same drainage channel.
Residents attributed the recurring incidents to inadequate drainage infrastructure and called on relevant authorities to urgently address the problem. The deceased’s uncle, Andy Emephia, also appealed for attention to the drainage system, saying the family was devastated by the loss.
Residents have consequently called for urgent intervention to improve drainage infrastructure in the area and prevent further loss of lives and property during heavy rainfall.
