A photo of the flood situation in the North East Region
A photo of the flood situation in the North East Region
Two more persons have died in the floods in the North East Region. This brings to six the number of persons who have died so far.

The deceased, namely Amanita Adjei, 42, and Anaab Akumayini, 39, were said to have drowned last Saturday while using a canoe to salvage their crops that had been submerged by the floodwaters.

Days of downpour and spillage from the Bagre dam in Burkina Faso have resulted in massive flooding of areas down the White Volta.

This year's opening of the spill gates to release water from the Bagre Dam is the earliest since 2007. The spill gates were opened on August 10, which is three weeks ahead of the earliest date previously recorded.



So far, the daily average rate of release from the dam has been quite high, between 76.5 cubic metres per second (m3/sec) and 473.1 m3/sec, with an exceptional rate of 1,108.02 m3/sec released on August 27, 2020.

Already, more than 1,000 people across the region are said to have been displaced, with large acres of farmlands submerged.

Some farmers in a canoe attempting to salvage their crops
Some farmers in a canoe attempting to salvage their crops
There are fears that the death toll could rise as the rains continue.

The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) is still assessing the extent of the damage.

Some major towns and communities have also been cut off from the regional capital, Nalerigu, making it difficult for the inhabitants to access services at the capital.

Relief items

The North East Regional Director of NADMO, Mr. Alhassan John Kweku, told the Daily Graphic last Sunday that some relief items had been organised for the victims.

He, however, said the continuous downpour was hampering all rescue operations and other interventions.

"Some relief items arrived from Accra on Sunday so we are currently putting things in place to see how we can distribute the items to the victims quickly to help alleviate their plight," he said.

It has been raining in the area for the past week and the spillage of water from the Bagre dam in Burkina Faso has worsened the situation.

Checks by the Daily Graphic revealed that a number of houses in Nalerigu and communities along the White Volta have been taken over by floods.

Background

According to SONABEL, managers of the Bagre Dam, the spillage had become necessary due to the 81 per cent increase in the water level in the dam.

Residents close to the bank of the Black and White Volta were consequently advised to relocate to other communities for shelter and safety.