Residents of Tamale and its suburbs were thrown into a state of panic Tuesday afternoon as a heavy down pour that lasted for over two hours culminated in life threatening flooding in the area. The Tamale flooding saw many communities of the metropolis submerged in flood, with lives [humans and livestock] and valuable properties, including houses and vehicles were destroyed and lost.
Activities on the roads, homes, schools, hospitals, markets, individual offices and shops were halted, with people scampering for safety as the waters flowed and overflowed.
Reports reveal that many were salvaged from the flood alive. However, a 59-year-old woman identified as Hajia Fati Dabuni lost her life in the Tamale flooding. The woman who was riding in a Toyota RAV4 car with registration number GT 8271-11, was on her way to pick her child from school when she was swept away by the raging waters at a major water way around the Gariba Lodge Hotel in Gumani.
An amateur video posted on Graphic.com Facebook page shows the horrendous moment the unfortunate woman got drowned in the heavy flood. Watch below.
Hajia’s dead body was later retrieved from her car by a rescue team, and has been deposited at the Tamale Teaching Hospital morgue.
Another yet to be confirmed report reveal that a primary school pupil also lost his life in the Tamale flooding.
The Gynaecology ward of the Tamale Teaching Hospital was also affected by the flood, with health personnel on duty scooping out waters that entered the ward.
Commenting on the ugly incident while speaking to Citi news, Regional Director of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), Alhaji Abdallah Hindu pleaded with residents living in flood prone areas to relocate for their own safety. He further cautioned private developers against building on water ways.
The flooding situation in the Tamale Metropolitan Area and the Sagnarigu districts are perennial. Choked drains and building on waterways are some of the root causes which requires immediate action.
Meanwhile, the President has constituted a government delegation to visit the affected area and report back for action to be taken.
Just like the Tamale case, flooding in various parts of Ghana has remained a perennial menace, with casualties ranging from scores to hundreds recorded each year, amidst loss of valuables.
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