Description of the Event
What happened, where and when?
Flooding was forecasted by NADMO with an incidence across the North of Ghana, affecting 70,000 with the water ow after the opening of the Bagre Dam as usually recorded in the past years. On that risk analysis, Ghana Red Cross launched a DREF to anticipate on the event and limit the vulnerability of the most exposed villages around the Volta rivers and its tributaries in Upper West, Upper East , Northern/Northern, Savannah/Northern, Northeast.
On 07 and 08 September, the SONABEL (the power utility of Burkina Faso) announced that the thresholds of the Bagre Dam reservoir reached the highest level, requiring the spillage of water from the dam. Through the coordination platform in place, information was shared that water was released only partially and not the full opening anticipated with 235-255mm of water as released in the past; reducing the alert level and risk across the communities.
The floods experienced by then remained very localized in the North and flooding only expand with the torrential rains started in late September and that continue until 18th October. Accumulation of torrential rains resulted on protracted and back to back floods events in that period in Savannah and Volta regions linked to the overflow of Bui black Volta (Savannah region) and spillage/overland from Akosombo Dam (Volta region).
From NADMO joint assessment of 26th October, 35,857 people were affected cumulatively in the Volta area. Highest impact were reported with floods on 14.10.2023 In Volta region when the Akasombo dam experienced an increased water flows which forced the authorities to open the flood gates. This led to the flooding of communities in Central, North and South of Tongu districts, It is reported that over 21,000 people alone have been affected by the floods, at least seven people injured. The displaced people have been moved to higher grounds. Dozens of people have been isolated as the floods have affected the road network. One hospital had to be evacuated due to high water levels. The situation is set to worsen as the Ghana Met has forecasted increased rainfall in the areas.
On 23rd September 2023, the Bui dam has also experienced similar overflow of water, subsequently resulting in the black volta bursting its banks and flooding affecting about 5,000 people in seven communities in Buipe town , central Gonja district , leading to the destruction of houses , public infrastructure such as schools, and also the flooding of farm lands where a significant amount of crops were lost. The flooding which has been gradually increasing in intensity due to the heavy rainfall have caused displacement of 540 families to evacuation centers in higher grounds.
Other displaced families were hosted by families who live in high grounds. In both regions, the displaced populations of 26,000 people have lost their properties , farm products and means of livelihoods. Successive impacts and continuation of rains is still putting the North in additional risk of flooding.
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