KAKATA, Margibi – A heavy rain downpour has rendered several persons homeless and destroyed properties in at least seven major communities within Kakata.

Following at least three days of heavy rain, the flood has almost taken over several communities including the Mandingo Quarter, Dennisville, Goturmo Town, Benla, Bassa, and Miss Moore communities.

The affected residents were forced to move out to seek refuge with relatives and friends as most of their personal belongings were left submerged.

Jordan Bainda, 52, a father of eight children and a resident of Dennisville community, appeared frustrated after being temporarily displaced by flooding for the fourth time. He now does not see his community as a habitable place for his family.

“Last year, the flood took over my entire house and I think it might even be worse this year, and I think the best thing will be for the government to relocate us,” Bainda said. “The way I see the threats from the water, I don’t think I can live here with my family again because this water continues to disturb us every year.”

Lomene Singbah, another victim of last year’s severe flooding, said the flooding of his home late Monday morning forced him to abandon all of his personal belongings in the house. He expressed concern that the flood might severely damage the structure.

“I can’t enter the house now because I don’t know the stability of the house. As you the see the water has taken over the entire building,” Singbah noted. “All my things are in the house.”

Nathaniel Johnson, an elderly man, pleaded for government intervention to mitigate the situation: “I have stayed in this house since 1986 and I had never experienced this and there is a need for government to come to our aid.”

The flood has also stalled the free flow of human and vehicular traffic along the Kakata-Bong Mines route where a small river has overflowed its banks, causing hindrance to the normal flow of traffic.

This flooding marks the fourth time this year that Margibi has been affected by severe flooding. Meanwhile, officials appear to be doing little to mitigate the situation and prevent such occurrences.

Flood victims are transported aboard a raft. Photo: Emmanuel Degleh

Last year’s flooding led to the displacement of over 35,000 Margibi residents, most of whom were from Lower Margibi, impeding traffic flow along the Robertsfield Highway for days.

It even took the mercy of the Armed Forces of Liberia, Coast Guard to provide support for the flood victims, especially women and children who were trapped by the water in the Dennisville community in Kakata. They used rafts to rescue flood victims.

Feature photo by Emmanuel Degleh