Properties and livelihoods of hundreds of residents in parts of the Hohoe Zongo in the Volta Region have been badly affected following flooding in the community.
The downpour on Sunday and showers in the early hours of Monday destroyed the properties and livelihoods of hundreds of residents in parts of the Hohoe Zongo community.
The Assembly Member for the Tsevi/Adabrakra Electoral Area, Abdul Wahab Mohammed Seeriboi, told journalists that more than 150 houses had been affected by the disaster.
According to the Assembly Member, residents woke up to find floodwaters entering their homes, forcing some of them to scramble to salvage their belongings.
He said although the flooding caused extensive damage to properties and livelihoods, including the collapse of some buildings, no casualties had been recorded at the time of reporting.
One of the victims, Madam Sadia Seidu, said the situation began when water started flowing in small quantities from a gutter into the compound of a house opposite hers.
She said the occupants initially began packing their belongings after noticing that the water level was rising, but they were eventually forced to move to her grandmother’s house for safety.
However, Madam Seidu said her grandmother’s house was also suddenly flooded, leaving them unable to retrieve most of their belongings.
She appealed to the government, benevolent individuals and organisations to come to the aid of the affected residents, stressing that they had not anticipated the disaster and were unprepared for the extent of the flooding.
Another victim, Alhaji Yussif Ali, said residents woke up to find floodwaters entering their homes.
“Before we realised it, the flood had covered the whole vicinity, our houses and everything,” he said.
Alhaji Yussif said although no deaths had been recorded, virtually everything belonging to residents had been affected, leaving some victims uncertain about where they would stay.
Meanwhile, the Hohoe Municipal Director of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Mr Raphael Kumagah, said the organisation had received reports that the River Dayi had overflowed its banks.
He said NADMO officials visited the affected areas together with personnel from the Ghana National Ambulance Service and the Ghana National Fire Service to assess the situation and assist affected residents.
Mr Kumagah said NADMO was still compiling records of the victims and assessing the extent of the damage.
He advised residents in the affected areas to relocate to safer locations and refrain from returning to their homes until they were given the all-clear by the relevant authorities.
As of Monday, the floodwaters were observed to be receding, while affected residents continued to salvage their belongings from the flooded areas.
By: Daniel Orlando/newsalertgh.com
