THERE was a heavy rainstorm in Freetown today and to the distress of residents of the Sierra Leone capital, the deluge wreaked a lot of havoc, destroying houses , overflowing drainage systems, flooding streets and there are reports of some loss of lives.
It was the early rains of the season , but the havoc it caused has fueled fears that flooding and environmental calamities, which have been frequent over the years, are not things of the past.
SOME RESIDENTS OF FREETOWN HAVE BEEN BUSY ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND WE BRING YOU THEIR REPORTS AND PHOTOS
THE FORMER MAYOR OF FREETOWN, YVONNE AKI-SAWYER MADE THIS POST :
On this day with heavy rains across the city, I am reminded of the #FloodMitigation activities conducted last year and the need for continuous interventions to save lives and property.
– Drainage construction (including #SambaGutter!) is the mandate and responsibility of #SLRA. Drainage that is too small for the heavy rainfall will result in flooding no matter how often it is cleaned.
– Silt from the hills will continue as long as the #LandsMinistry gives permits for construction in the protected Western Area forests that surround our city. #BuildingPermits are not issued by FCC. #Deforestation is a major cause of flooding. We have planted over 800,000 of our million trees target but a recent WFP report confirms that over 1,500 hectares of forest was cut down in 2022 alone!
– Flood mitigation activities (clearing gutters and drainages) have been a great help to Freetown since I introduced these in 2018 but it appears that this work has not been done this year in my absence. The Mayor’s presence is not required for the #FloodMitigation activities to be done.
#Freetonians please stay safe and let us all be well informed about the mandates and responsibilities of various state institutions as we deal with the consequences of climate change, massive ongoing deforestation, poor drainage systems and uncleared garbage.
*BREAKING NEWS!*
*It’s yet another day, we have been greeted by a heavy downpour of rain which has resulted in flooding and the loss of lives & properties.*
*At least 5 people including children have reportedly lost their lives in the Bankolay Community off Fourahbay Road, Freetown.*
*May God be with them..*🙏
*©✍🏿24 HRS BLOGGERS.*
Today, a huge branch of the
#CottonTree fell…In my view, like any other plant, that #CottonTree that stands as the symbol of Freetown will surely fall one day. We should be thinking of means to replace it with a Man-made Metal Tree that will still be called the #CottonTree. That Tree is old, in fact too old. It is said to have been there when the first settlers arrived in 1787 and may have been there two hundred or more years before they arrived. Cotton Trees have a potential to live for 200 to 400 years…Ours may be much older.
