Residents of Aeroplane Road in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, and Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta have raised the alarm over floating corpses from submerged cemeteries in their areas as flooding continues to ravage most parts of the country.
This came as several communities in Bomadi, Patani, and Burutu local government areas of Delta State were on Monday sacked by the ravaging flood, with indigenes sleeping on top of Bomadi Bridge.
Africa Today News, New York had yesterday reported that this year’s flood is perhaps the worst in Nigeria’s history, with over 603 dead, two million displaced and hundreds of hectares of farmlands destroyed.
Raising alarm on Monday over the health consequences of floating corpses in their community, residents of Yenagoa in Bayelsa called on the state government for immediate action to avoid a public health crisis.
Read Also: Over 300 Nigerians Killed By 2022 Floods – Report
One of the residents, who gave his name as Mr Emmanuel Oden, lamented that the floating corpses had become a recurring development during floods, adding that relocation of the cemetery is long overdue.
Oden further alleged that corpses at the cemetery were often buried in shallow graves of about 3 feet, rather than the recommended six feet prescribed by law.
Another resident Mr. Ebi Owoupele, pleaded with the Bayelsa State Government to understand the plight of the people and assure them that the cemetery will be relocated.
Recall that a group known as Save the Children has confirmed that the 2022 floods in Nigeria claimed over 300 people in multiple states as of September.
The leading UK-based humanitarian organisation has disclosed that about 75 people died in neighbouring Niger Republic.
The body evaluates that more than 150,000 people, of which about half are children, have been affected by floods in both countries.
The torrential rain in southern Niger and northern Nigeria has caused severe damage to livelihoods, homes, crops and livestock.
The flooding has destroyed several communities along the Niger-Nigeria border, washed away, or ruined approximately 14,500 homes.