By Francis Kamara
Ravaging storm and heavy rainfall has destroyed houses, business centers in many parts of Freetown. The disaster has left at least 4 people dead and hundreds of others in critical conditions.
Statistics have proven that more than 2.000 people have been affected by the heavy rainfall that started in the early morning hours of Sunday August 28th 2022.
The Sierra Leone Meteorological Agency Models Outputs and Weather Forecast, said the water level has increased due to the recent heavy rainfall and will thus result to flooding in most areas in Freetown.
Social media videos and photos have shown that the heavy rain in Freetown has led to the collapsed of a house at Looking town (Kissy) with people being trapped underneath.
Roads have been blocked in places like Siaka Stevens Street, Ferry Junction, Jui, regent, and other areas in Freetown, due to the heavy rainfall.
We urge everyone to take the necessary precautions as advised by SLMET and NDMA.
Updates received from the National Situation Room at ONS.
Report of 28 AUG ’22 informs of flash floods and landslide in some communities in the Western Area due to torrential rains as follows:
In Kanikay, Culvert, Kaningo and Tengbeh Town, some houses and major roads are reportedly flooded leaving residents trapped in the raging waters and their properties destroyed.
In Looking Town, there was a landslide that covered two houses and some people are reportedly trapped in the rubble. Residents in the community managed to remove five people from the rubble. Four (04) of them had already died and the remaining one, a child (age 7) was rescued alive and taken to the Rokupa Government Hospital.
In Brook Street, a perimeter fence collapsed on a building which left some people trapped in the building.
In Cassava Farm on Leicester Road, a building collapsed due to the torrential rain. However, no casualties have been reported.
At Mary Street by Circular Road, an electrical pole has fallen down due to the torrential rains.
On Bai Bureh Road by Bumeh Landfill, a big tree has fallen down barricading the main street. This has prevented vehicular movements and poses threats to pedestrians.
Credit: OWL Newspaper
