The National Disaster and Management Organization (NADMO) in the Savannah Region wants the Municipal Assemblies in the region to remove buildings that are being developed on waterways.
This it says is to avert future floods in the area.
The directive comes after a downpour on Thursday morning which left parts of the Savannah regional capital, Damongo, flooded.
The flood destroyed properties and left several people displaced.
Speaking to Citi News, the Savannah Regional NADMO Coordinator, Mohammed Tohir said the poorly constructed drains in the area should also be fixed.
“Looking at this type of disaster we just recorded, I think what we need to work on is the drainage system and people developing on waterways. Those who have also developed will have to be relocated. Those who have not done that will also have to be advised. The Town and Country Planners must not release those pieces of land to people because it blocks the easy flow of water and that actually causes the kind of disaster we face”, he said.
The rains, which started around 3:00 am on Thursday flooded homes and an orphanage.
Residents told Citi News that this is the first flooding in the area.
“At about 5:00 am, we heard voices outside. When we opened our door, the house had been inundated with floodwater. So people had to move us out through the window. We have been here for two years and this is the first time this is happening. We suspect that the failure of road contractors to construct drains as part of the road project is to blame for this,” Mariam Bugri, a victim narrated.
National Disaster and Management Organization (NADMO) officials and personnel of the National Fire Service who were on hand to rescue some victims say they are still assessing the situation.
“We had a distress call, and we quickly responded to it. We came here and did the assessment, and we realized that about six houses have been affected. But we want to conclude the investigations before we come to the actual cause of the flood”, Philip Okumah, who is with the West Gonja Municipal Fire team said.
Source: citinewsroom.com
