Vehicles submerged, traders flee as downpour hits Owerri

Vehicles were submerged  and business activities grounded following a downpour in Owerri,  Imo State,  on Friday.

The downpour, which lasted over two hours in the metropolis,   forced  traders to  hurriedly lock up their shops and  ran for their lives due to heavy  flooding on several streets.

Areas mostly affected were Bank Road, Mbari, Douglas, Akwakuma,Orji, Control Post and Item Street.

Vehicles  stalled in flooding were submerged, causing gridlock in the state capital.

The Special Adviser on Media to the Governor, Steve Osuji, said, “The problem is deep no doubt. Eight years of environmental degradation by (the)  Rochas Okorocha (administration) left Imo a disaster zone. But the right men are on the job. The Owerri underground drainage master plan which was abandoned is being excavated. Soon Owerri shall be the cleanest again.”