FILE: Main bridge leading to Akoka in 2017. Credit|UNMISS

Two people have died from snake bites after floods submerged several homes in Akoka County of Upper Nile state.

This is according to the County Commissioner, Gieth Ador.

He said the incident happened yesterday.

Commissioner Gieth said the floods have devastated most parts of the County since the beginning of this month.

Areas most hit hard by the floods include Wad-kit and Achuil, among others.

More than 5,000 people are now displaced.

The unprecedented levels of flash floods in the area have forced poisonous snakes to float on water and into drylands.

Commissioner Ador is appealing to the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission and humanitarian agencies to provide the displaced with urgent assistance.

He told Eye Radio from Akoka on Wednesday that the county is devastated due to heavy floods.

“Akoka County is devastated due to heavy floods. It is now beyond our control as the County authority, and as a result, we are appealing through Eye Radio to all humanitarian agencies to rescue us,” the commissioner has said.

“Two people died of snake bites because of the floods, the snakes are coming to where the displaced persons are living, searching for dry land. We lost two people yesterday, both men in their 30s.”

Annually, torrential rains have caused havoc in several parts of the country including Jonglei, Lakes, parts of Central and Western Equatoria states.

Several people have died from snake bites after floods submerged several homes in Unity, Jonglei and Upper Nile states.