Seven killed in northern floods

Accra, Sept. 18, GNA - Seven people lost their lives in the three northern regions as a result of flooding, caused by heavy rainfall over the past two weeks and the spillage of excess water from the Bagre Dam in Burkina Faso, which started on September 4, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) said on Friday. NADMO said four people, including a school girl, died in the Northern Region and three others in Upper West. In a release signed by Mr Kofi Portuphy, National Coordinator of NADMO, said apart from the school girl who was killed when a building collapsed on her, three men died whilst trying to harvest their crops and three others through collapsed buildings.

"The effects of the spillage from Burkina Faso is now being felt in the northern part of the country, and that most of the rivers have overflowed their banks, resulting in farmlands in low-lying areas completely submerged," it said, adding that, major crops affected included rice, maize, millet, groundnuts and guinea corn. The statement said about 115,000 people were effected - 63,000 in the Northern Region, 29,340 in the Upper East and 22,350 in the Upper West Region.

It said 214 communities were affected in the Northern Region, 579 in the Upper East Region and 120 in the Upper West Region. A total of 28,264.5 acres of farms were destroyed - 11,295.5, 13,817 and 5,682 acres in the Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions respectively. NADMO said 991 schools were destroyed in the Northern Region, 3,159 in the Upper East Region and 421 in the Upper West Region. NADMO said its teams in the various regions were continuing with their assessment of the situation.

NGOs, Regional and District Disaster Management Committees and other stakeholders were all on the ground to respond to the disaster, it added.

"The level of cooperation and collaboration among the various respondents has been very high. Education and sensitization of people still at risk to move away to safer grounds continues in all the vulnerable communities. "People are also being educated to, as much as possible, stay away from floodwaters."

NADMO said it had continued to deliver relief items to the affected people in the three regions. These include food, shelter, medicine, water filters, water purifying tablets, mattresses, blankets, clothing and mosquito nets.

"We are appealing to the general public to stay clearly away from the river channels/valleys, as the spillage is still in progress, due to the unprecedented high rainfall in the sub-region. Our appeal also goes to residents downstream between Yapei, Yeji and Akosombo to remain vigilant and report changes in water levels to NADMO."

NADMO assured the general public that everything possible was being done to assist the affected communities and called for cooperation from the general public, the vulnerable communities and those already affected.