Elegu floods: One feared dead, thousands stranded

Aug 24, 2017

One person has been presumed dead after his vehicle was washed away by the ravaging floods in Elegu.

(Credit: Jackson Kitara)

ENVIRONMENT | FLOODS


AMURU - One person is feared dead and more than 2,000 people around Elegu border market in Amuru district are believed to now be homeless after Unyama stream burst its bank, giving way to fierce, destructive floods.

The area experienced a downpour that started Monday night and did not let up until Tuesday late-morning.

Several people in Amuru district have since reported  that some bridges were swept away, leaving some areas cut off in the two sub-counties of Atiak and Pabbo.
 
The downpour also led to the washed away of a bridge at Unyama River in Okidi parish, Atiak sub-county that connects Atiak sub-county and Lamwo district from Apyeta parish in Ogili sub-county.
 
Unyama Bridge is the only route that UN refugee agency UNHCR and other UN agencies use to connect refugees in West Nile and those that are in Lamwo district.

LC1 chairman Martin Okubo said many homes were ravaged by floods.

"Many people climbed trees and to the top of buildings as the floods raged on. Even the customs office was hit," he said.

"The floods washed away houses and latrines, leaving many people stranded. Gardens were also destroyed and others submerged in water."

The heavy rain that flooded Unyama River washed the bridge 500 metres away, leaving people of Okidi parish in Atiak with no access to the sub-county.

Opara Bridge in Palukere parish which links Atiak sub-county and Palaro sub-county in Gulu district was also affected.

 

Wii Akwir stream that connects Lagot Oywec village and Okidi parish burst its banks, according to LC3 chairman of Atiak sub-county, Wilfred Baguma Odiya.
 
"The water has flooded the gardens and many buildings near Unyama River and streams are falling off due to flooding. I appeal to the ministry of disaster preparedness, management and refugees to come up with relief to help these people affected," he said.

Meanwhile, police was searching for a one  Charles Kawooya who was reported to have drowned when flood waters swept away his vehicle.

Aswa River Region Regional police spokesperson, Patrick Jimmy Okema, said 30-year-old Kawooya, a driver of a crane vehicle of registration number UAX 917J from Rantanga in Masaka district, is presumed dead.
 
He said two other victims who were with him were rescued by the local people around.

Okema said at Elegu, about 35 people and animals were also rescued by locals who know how to swim.

He said they have not yet established the extent of damage, suspected death cases, but many homesteads are already destroyed.

This is the second time that Elegu has been hit by floods. In 2013, as many as 6,000 people were left homeless after Unyama stream burst its banks.

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