Heavy rainfall across Osun State has triggered flooding in several communities, destroying property and damaging a major bridge linking Ijaregbe with Ilesa.

The downpour, which was recorded across parts of the state between Friday and Monday, reportedly flooded communities in Osogbo and Ilesa, disrupting movement and leaving residents worried about further damage.

Among the worst-affected areas were Ayekale, Famson Area, Oke Baale, Sasa and Ilesa Garage in Osogbo.

Bridge damaged after midnight downpour

The bridge linking Ijaregbe to Ilesa was damaged following several hours of heavy rainfall on Monday, effectively cutting off the community from the city centre.

The overflow of the Ora River also flooded Muroko Road in Ilesa, while communities including Ijana, Ibala, Ayegunle, Idooko and Eesun Ijesa were affected.

The flooding reportedly disrupted the movement of residents, goods and services across the affected communities.

The Olomu of Ijaregbe, Oba Edward Adetimo, confirmed the damage in a telephone interview with The PUNCH.

He said the bridge collapsed following a heavy downpour around midnight, adding that the House of Assembly member representing Obokun State Constituency, Adewumi Adeyemi, and others visited the area to assess the situation.

The monarch said officials from the Ministry of Works were expected to provide a temporary solution pending the full reconstruction of the bridge.

He added that children from the community who attend schools in Ilesa were unable to go to school on Monday because of the damage.

“We appeal to the state government to urgently come to our aid,” the monarch said.

Residents count losses after flooding

In Ayekale, Osogbo, residents said the flooding destroyed valuables and inundated several houses.

One of the residents, Shekinat Olaegbe, a widow, said she lost valuables after heavy rainfall caused water to overflow in the area.

“I lost valuables to flooding and many houses were flooded after heavy rain in Osogbo last Friday. The water channel in our area is blocked, and just a few hours of rain caused the water to overflow its banks,” she said.

Olaegbe expressed concern about the possibility of another flood, saying residents had been living in fear as rainfall continued.

“We live in fear of another flooding at any moment. It has been raining in our area for the past three hours. The government needs to act quickly,” she added.

Another resident, Akin Olugbodi, also reported losses following the flooding.

Osun govt explains flood-control measures

The Osun State Commissioner for Environment, Mayowa Adejoorin, said the state government had taken measures to reduce the impact of flooding.

Adejoorin described flooding as a seasonal occurrence associated with heavy and prolonged rainfall but maintained that the situation had not reached an uncontrollable level in the state.

He said the Ministry of Environment and Sanitation had been implementing preventive measures ahead of the rainy season, including dredging waterways and sensitising residents against indiscriminate dumping of refuse in drainage channels.

According to him, the damage to the bridge and box culvert linking Ilesa with Ijaregbe, Ijana, Ibala, Ayegunle, Idooko and Eesun Ijesa falls under the responsibility of the Ministry of Works.

He added that the ministry had already commenced action following the incident.

Meanwhile, affected residents and community leaders are calling for urgent intervention to restore access to Ijaregbe and other communities and prevent further flooding as rainfall continues across the state.

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