Details emerging from the floods that caused severe destruction in the Upper West Region a week ago, indicate that an 80-year-old woman died after her house collapsed on her in Wa East.
Disaster management authorities fear more devastation could occur as more rains are expected, amidst concerns about inadequate relief items for affected persons.
Speaking to Citi News, the Upper West Coordinator of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), Ahmed Mustapha, painted a bleak picture of the situation in the region, and its impact on food security in the country.
“Unfortunately, we have recorded one death from Wa East. Her house collapsed on her during the flood. She lost her life upon reaching the clinic.”
“This is a very tough development for the people of Wa. We suspect the numbers to be more than what we have recorded so far. We are still doing our checks.”
An over 12-hour downpour in the Upper West Region on Friday, August 14, 2021, flooded irrigation sites, farmlands, and communities along the Nadowli-Tangasie highway.
The flood washed off major road roads in the area, with many commuters getting stranded.
Major bridges on the Wa-Hale road that connect the Nadow-Kaleo district, Jirapa, Lawra, and the Nadom Municipalities to Wa, the Upper West Regional capital, were also affected. Portions of the already deplorable Wa-Tumu road were also washed off.
Data from NADMO indicates some 1,605 people in the Nadowli-Kaleo District, Jirapa District, and the Lawra municipalities were affected by the floods.
According to NADMO, the victims lost a total of 722 farmlands.
336 persons were also displaced, according to NADMO.
The report indicates that some 155 houses were destroyed during the floods.
