By: Thaimu Bai Sesay
The tragedy of flooding in the capital of Sierra Leone still remains unsolved as residents in Freetown continue to lose their precious lives in a terrible and ghastly situation every raining season. Flooding in Freetown is apparently becoming a life-threatening disaster that seems not to have a solution.
In all the recent years, Freetown has been recording the highest number of causalities in flooding and other related catastrophes. Notable one amongst the deadly flooding was the August 14 incident in 2017 that took the lives of over 1,000 Sierra Leones, leaving others badly injured and homeless.
Lingering with those horrific images, recently again on Wednesday the 10 of May, 2023 in a torrential downpour that resulted into flooding in some parts of the capital, deaths were also recorded. The reoccurrence of this situation is a living evidence to showcase that the issue of flooding in Freetown is still not a thing of the past.
From a clear vintage point, the annual flooding in Freetown is primarily caused by heavy rainfall, which occurs between May and October. The city’s topography, which is characterized by steep slopes and narrow valleys, exacerbates the problem, as the water quickly flows downhill and accumulates in low-lying areas. In addition, poor urban planning and inadequate infrastructure, such as poorly maintained drainage systems and insufficient waste management facilities, contribute to the severity of the floods.
Efforts to mitigate the impact of the yearly flooding in Freetown have been ongoing for several years, with the government and various NGOs implementing measures such as building retaining walls, dredging rivers, and improving drainage systems. However, the scale of the problem is immense, and progress has been slow due to limited resources and a lack of political will.
The yearly flooding in Freetown is a significant challenge that has far-reaching consequences for the city’s residents. While efforts are underway to address the problem, more needs to be done to ensure the safety and well-being of the people living in Freetown.
In helping to savage this problem, the residents again have a part to play. They need to maintain proper sanitation. They should refrain from throwing deaths on the streets and in the gutters to prevent blockage and ensure the free flow of water when raining. This can also help mitigate flooding, save lives and homes and keep the city clean.