More than 30 houses have collapsed after severe flooding submerged several island communities in the Keta Municipality of the Volta Region, leaving scores of residents homeless and displaced.
The floods have affected communities including Laworshime, Hagodzi, Mamime, Songbe, and Agorbledokui, where rising waters have inundated homes, destroyed farmlands, and submerged crops and other valuable property.
Assembly Member for the Laworshime Electoral Area, Israel Mensah, described the situation as dire and appealed to government and humanitarian agencies to provide immediate relief to affected residents.
According to him, the destruction has displaced many families, with some forced to sleep in the open while others seek shelter with relatives in neighbouring communities.
“The collapse of more than 30 houses has left many families with nowhere to turn. Some residents are sleeping in the open or seeking refuge with relatives in less-affected communities. Others remain stranded in the island communities with limited access to food, clean water, and healthcare,” he said.
One of the major challenges facing residents is the complete isolation of the affected communities. Floodwaters have cut off all road access routes, leaving canoes as the only means of transportation between the islands and the mainland.
Mensah expressed concern over the dangers associated with the situation, noting that many residents are forced to cross deep and fast-flowing waters without life jackets, exposing them to the risk of drowning.
“The floods have also wiped out farmlands and submerged crops across the island communities. This is a severe blow to people who depend largely on farming and fishing for their livelihoods,” he added.
Residents are also worried about the possibility of disease outbreaks as stagnant floodwaters continue to accumulate in the affected areas.
The assembly member warned that prolonged exposure to contaminated water could increase the risk of cholera, typhoid, and other water-borne diseases.
Source: GNA
