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Flood causes havoc in KM, WR

Sep 7, 2010, 11:50 AM | Article By: Lamin B Darboe & Lamin Darboe

Reports gathered by this paper, following the heavy rainfall on Sunday, have revealed that serious floods affected some parts of the Kanifing Municipality and Western Region.

According to early figures released by the KMC disaster co-ordinator, Binta Sey-Jadama, as many as 250 families and 2470 people were affected by flood waters in the Municipality, while 176 were made homeless all within a period of 24 hours.

She said that eleven out of the seventeen wards in KMC were yesterday visited by the Vice-President Isatou Njie Saidy, who is the chairperson of the National Disaster Governing Council to see for herself the extent of the damage caused by the disaster.

Among the places disaster officials visited yesterday was Tallinding Farokono, Bundung and Kotu Erinjang-Quarry.

Mrs. Jadama said their assessment team would carry out the assessment today, which will cover all the affected areas within the municipality.  

Meanwhile, similar reports were received about the damaged caused by the rains elsewhere, including Gunjur in the Kombo South district of the Western Region.

The reports said more than 50 compounds were affected by the heavy rainfall in Gunjur town alone, with further reports that the disaster was not limited to Gunjur.

The rains started in Gunjur at around 8pm on Sunday, and lasted for almost four hours, causing the collapse of houses and destroying foodstuff and household valuables.

Speaking to this reporter, one Sainey Touray, a victim, said his house with valuable items was destroyed, leaving his family homeless.

Mr. Touray, who is still struggling with the aftermath of the disaster, therefore, appealed to the government, philanthropists, donors, NGOs and individuals to come to his aid, since he does not have money at the moment to re-build his house.

Lamin Bojang, also a victim, blamed the absence of a drainage system for the destruction caused by the floodwaters in the area. He said CSE the road construction company should have built waterways in the area so that the water could pass through.

"If waterways were provided, it would have been easier for the water to pass quickly and go outside the village, and it would not disturb any body", Lamin Touray added.

Omar Kitty Janneh, another victim, said the houses in his compound and foodstuff were completely destroyed.