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Tag: heavy rains

  • Residents stranded as heavy rains flood Sandema community

    Residents stranded as heavy rains flood Sandema community

    Parts of Sandema in the Builsa North Municipality of the Upper East Region have been flooded following a heavy overnight downpour, leaving residents stranded and counting their losses.

    Sections of the Chuchuliga–Sandema road submerged and creating difficulties for motorists and commuters who use the route. 

    Last month, a severe rainstorm that swept through parts of the Yendi Municipality in the Northern Region left a 12-year-old girl dead, several people injured, and more than 40 houses destroyed.

    The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, July 22, displaced several families and once again highlighted the devastating impact of extreme weather events across Ghana.

    The tragedy in Yendi comes just weeks after deadly flooding struck parts of the Greater Accra Region. Ghana on Monday, June 29, witnessed a series of flooding incidents in some parts of the Greater Accra Region following heavy rains.

    The rains, which started late on Sunday, June 28, left commuters stranded, brought traffic to a standstill, resulted in the deaths of several individuals and destruction of properties.

    While some victims managed to salvage a few belongings, many suffered devastating losses as floodwaters submerged their homes and properties.

    The current death toll from the flooding incidents, as confirmed by the Ghana National Fire Service Public Relations Department, stands at 34. Meanwhile, the Finance Minister has realised a sum of GH¢300 million from the Contingency Fund for individuals affected by the incident following President John Dramani Mahama’s directive.

    The directive forms part of the government’s response to the flooding of parts of Accra and other communities in the southern sector of the country after hours of unusually heavy rainfall.

    In Ghana, the Contingency Fund is a constitutional fund set aside to meet urgent and unforeseen government expenses that cannot wait for the normal budget approval process.

    It is established under Article 177 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.

    In a statement issued on behalf of the President by the Spokesperson to the President and Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, it was indicated that the GH¢300 million will be divided into two, with portions designated to provide relief and implement measures to mitigate flooding.

    “President John Dramani Mahama has directed the Minister for Finance to release GHS 300 million from the Contingency Fund to finance urgent flood relief and mitigation efforts.

    GHS 150 million out of the amount will finance urgent relief efforts for flood-affected persons and communities in the southern sector of the country. Another GHS 150 million will be spent on flood mitigation measures aimed at reducing incidents of flooding,” parts of the statement read.

    Also, due to the scale of destruction and the effects of the floods, President Mahama has ordered that additional support be provided by the Ghana Armed Forces and other security services for the rescue operations ongoing across the city.

    “The President has also directed the deployment of personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces and Police to work with NADMO and other security services in the rescue and relief operations currently underway across the city,” adding that, “the President earlier today undertook an aerial tour of the flooded areas to assess the full extent of the situation and announced a raft of steps being taken to safeguard residents and prevent further flooding.”

  • Please stay at home – Interior Minister cautions as rains intensify

    Please stay at home – Interior Minister cautions as rains intensify

    The public has been urged by Interior Minister, Hon. Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, to stay safe following the heavy rains which began on Sunday, June 28, and are ongoing today, Monday, June 29.

    The ongoing rains have caused commuters stranded and traffic flow at a standstill.

    Affected areas include parts of the N1 Highway, Apenkwa towards Tesano, the Accra–Kasoa stretch, Weija, Mallam, Achimota, Spintex, Atomic in Madina, Kaneshie, Darkuman Junction, portions of the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange, and other surrounding communities.

    In a press statement issued by the Ministry of the Interior advised the general public to remain at conducive environments until it’s safe to move around.

    Part of the statement read, “The Ministry advises exercise extreme caution following the heavy rains and flooding experienced in several parts of the country this morning.

    “As a precautionary public safety measure, members of the public are advised to remain where they are until conditions improve. Those who are safely at home are urged to stay at home, while those who are at their workplaces or other safe locations should remain there until it is safe to travel. Unnecessary movement should be avoided.

    The Ministry further advised motorists and pedestrians not to attempt to drive or walk through flooded roads, bridges, or waterways, as floodwaters can rise rapidly and pose significant danger to life and property.

    According to the Ministry, the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana National Fire Service, the Ghana Armed Forces, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), and other emergency response services have been deployed to monitor the situation, assist affected persons, manage traffic, and undertake rescue operations where required.

    Meanwhile, members of the public in need of emergency assistance or wishing to report persons in distress are encouraged to contact the following emergency services:

    * Ghana Police Service: 18555 or 112
    * Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS): 192
    * National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO): 112

  • Video: Odawna River overflows with plastic waste after Monday morning downpour

    Video: Odawna River overflows with plastic waste after Monday morning downpour

    Accra experienced heavy rainfall on Monday, May 6, leading to flooding in certain areas.

    The Odawna River particularly illustrates the repercussions of inadequate waste management, with individuals observed gathering plastic waste from its waters.

    Meanwhile the flooding underscores urgent need for improved infrastructure and urban planning to mitigate such disasters.

    It also emphasizes the importance of community efforts in waste reduction and proper disposal.

    Ultimately, this event serves as a reminder of the interconnectedness between environmental stewardship and public health in urban areas.

    Watch full video below:

  • Bolivia floods: Dozens killed by heavy rains

    Bolivia floods: Dozens killed by heavy rains

    Many towns and villages in Bolivia are being warned about heavy rains that are causing a lot of damage.

    Authorities say that 33 people have died because of the rain since November. The rain has caused landslides and made rivers overflow.

    The number of people who have died is eight times more than this time last year.

    Officials are watching a few dams closely because they are worried they might flood.

    Juan Carlos Calvimontes, who is in charge of Civil Defence, said that in Bolivia, 10 out of 340 towns are on the highest alert and 279 are on the second highest alert.

    Authorities also mentioned that they sent help to Achocalla, in La Paz province. A 35-year-old woman and her two children were buried in a mudslide that covered their home.

    A neighbor told the local newspaper that she yelled at the woman to leave the house, but the mother might not have been able to take her children with her in time.

    More than 20 people got hurt.

    In La Paz province, officials are watching the water levels in the Incachaca dam very carefully.

    Government experts and the mayor of La Paz city went to see the dam on Sunday. La Paz is the city below the dam.

    Mayor Iván Arias said the reservoir is full of water, but it is draining properly and shouldn’t cause any big problems downstream.

    Three additional water storage areas – Hampaturi Alto, Pampalarama and Alpaquita – are also full.

    Bolivia is getting heavy rain after a very long time of not much rain and one of its hottest winters ever.

    In October, many people came to the Incachaca reservoir to pray for rain because it was nearly full.
    The doors that release water at the Incachaca reservoir.

    Bolivia often has extreme weather, like heavy rain. But now, climate change has made it more likely to have even heavier rain.

    The world has gotten 1. 1 degrees Celsius warmer since the industrial era started, and temperatures will continue to rise unless governments make big reductions in emissions.

  • We’ll fix roads destroyed by rains, exercise restraint – Ministry of Roads to Ghanaians

    We’ll fix roads destroyed by rains, exercise restraint – Ministry of Roads to Ghanaians

    The Ministry of Roads and Highways has urged citizens to remain patient as it diligently works to repair roads affected by heavy rainfall.

    The Ministry said significant volumes of work are being done to expand the nation’s road network and undertake routine and periodic maintenance on existing ones.

    This is in response to concerns raised by the public on potholes that have emerged as a result of heavy rains.

    The Ministry of Roads and Highways in a statement issued on Wednesday, June 14, explained that maintenance works are currently ongoing at Teshie Tsui Bleoo Road and Fertilizer Road.

    “The attention of the Ministry of Roads and Highways (MRH) has been drawn to concerns being raised by the public and some sections of the media regarding potholes which have emerged on some roads in the country as a result of recent heavy rains.

    “The Ministry wishes to state that generally significant volumes of work are being done to expand the nation’s road network and undertake routine and periodic maintenance on existing ones. The rainy season always causes some deterioration to some old roads which are then quickly attended to through the Ministry’s emergency maintenance programme. The Ministry wishes to assure the public that measures are being put in place to address critical sections of roads which have gone bad throughout the country upon the onset of rains,” the Ministry of Roads and Highways noted in its statement.

  • Parts of eastern Accra flooded after Thursday downpour

    Parts of eastern Accra flooded after Thursday downpour

    Motorists who plied the Kpone Barrier section of the Tema-Aflao N1 road on Thursday, May 18, were left stranded as a result of the heavy rains.

    Some motorists and their passengers complained of staying in gridlocks between two and five hours before making their way out of the situation.

    Joy News’ Carlos Calony who toured the affected areas said the floods blocked the road in front of the Bel-Acqua Bottling Company where commuters virtually sailed through running waters.

    The main Accra –Tema Motorway did not fare any better, as the rains forced a heavy gridlock that ensured vehicles moved at a snail’s pace.

    A number of vehicles with very low clearance had to park for the floods to subside, while some others who braved through had their vehicles break down.

    Many suggested the situation could have been dire had it rain for very long hours.

    Recent construction works and human activities, including the erection of buildings in spaces that previously accommodated runoff water, are at the base of the flooding.

  • Downpour causes traffic congestion on Dzorwulu N1 Highway road

    Downpour causes traffic congestion on Dzorwulu N1 Highway road

    The heavy rains in Accra on Monday, May 15, has caused traffic congestion and flooding on the Dzorwulu N1 Highway road.

    The National Highway 1 (N1 Highway) from Dzorwulu to Lapaz had one of the slowest traffic, which caused delays for road users.

    Monday’s rain, which lasted for almost an hour, created inconveniences for workers and pedestrians whose movement was impeded. Cars were stuck in traffic for long minutes.

    Several parts of Dzorwulu experienced floods as a result of their poor drainage system, which has been a major problem for years.

    According to a viral video, there are a number of stranded vehicles on the N1 Highway. The lanes started to clear after the flood water receded.

    There were no casualties as drivers drove with caution; however, the storm drains, which have been choked for years, impeded movement.

  • Meteo warns of minor rainfall Sept. to Nov.

    The Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet) has warned that the minor rainfall season will come with some above normal rainfalls that may lead to flooding in low lying areas.

    “At the peak of the September to November (SON) season, there is a high probability of a few incidences of heavy rains accompanied by strong winds and lightning which could lead to localised floods,” GMat’s forecast said.

    It said the cumulative rainfall, both in time and space, was expected to be above normal for most places in the southern parts of the country, except for some areas in the middle portions and the transition areas .

    SON forecast

    In a forecast for SON – the minor rainfall season – the agency said most of the rains would be in the form of light to moderate rain but spread over several hours.

    The forecast, made available to the Daily Graphic, indicated that many places in the north would experience mostly normal rainfall while most places in the Upper East Region would experience surplus rainfall for the season.

    Early to normal onset dates were expected over most places in the coastal areas of the country, while most places in the forest areas as well as the transition areas would experience a normal to late onset for this September-October-November season.

    According to the forecast, the season, which was expected to be normal to shorter days of between 32-98 days, had a high probability of incidences of heavy rains accompanied by strong winds and lightning which could lead to localised floods.

    There is also a high probability of experiencing shorter to normal dry spells during the beginning of the season and relatively long dry spells towards the end of the season.

     

     

    Distribution

    GMat indicated that the distribution of the SON seasonal cumulative rainfall, both in time and space, was expected to be above normal for most places in the southern parts of the country, except for some areas in the middle portions and the transition areas.

    “Most of the rains will be in the form of light to moderate rain but spread over several hours,” it added.

    Early to normal onset dates, it said, were expected over most places in the coastal areas while most places in the forest areas as well as the transition areas will experience a normal to late onset for this SON season.

    “At the beginning of the minor season, short to normal dry spells are expected while towards the end of the season, longer to normal dry spells are expected over most places in the southern regions of Ghana.

    “The rainfall season for 2022 is likely to end earlier as compared to their normal dates for most places in Southern Ghana. It is expected that a few places along the forest areas like Kade, Koforidua, Asamankese, and Kumasi will have their season ending on the normal dates (1st week of December) possibly extending to late periods,” the agency said.

    Impacts/recommendations

    “At the peak of the SON season, there is a high probability of a few incidences of heavy rains accompanied by strong winds and lightning which could lead to localised floods. There is also a high probability of experiencing shorter to normal dry spells during the beginning of the season and relatively long dry spells towards the end of the season,” it said.

    The minor season, characteristically, it said, had a shorter length of season and this year was no exception.

    To mitigate any risk, that might occasion, to people, animals, crops, and material goods, it recommended the establishment and operationalisation of integrated monitoring and early warning systems for flood risk.

    That, it said, was in the face of flood risk as there was a high chance of occurrence this year in the northern half of the country due to the impact of the rains and the likelihood of the spillage of the Bagre dam in Burkina Faso

    It called for exchanges between the agencies in charge of flood monitoring, disaster risk reduction, and that humanitarian aid should be escalated.

    The forecast emphasised the need to sensitise the population of exposed areas to the impending danger and the relocation of settlers in flood-prone areas.

    “Flash floods may occur, especially in the month of October, in places like low lying areas of Accra and Kumasi during the September to November period. This may lead to some roads becoming impassable when it rains. Road users should be mindful when plying those roads. Drivers should resist driving through flood waters,” it said.

    Health

    In places where the rainy season is wetter, the forecast noted that there were higher levels of the risk of cholera, malaria, dengue fever, bilharzia, and diarrhoea and that to mitigate the development of germs and reduce the risk of diseases, “it is strongly recommended that public education should be intensified through national platforms on disaster risk reduction through the radio, TV, information vans, etc|”.

    Source: GraphicOnline