By Bill W. Cooper
The city of Paynesville has once again showcased a sorrowful scene as a result of a catastrophic flood following a heavy downpour of rain which lasted a day.
Our reporter who visited several parts of Paynesville yesterday stated that the flood also wreaked residents thus leaving several persons homeless and causing destruction.
According to our reporter, the heavy downpour of rain which started during the evening of Sunday, July 2, 2023 witnessed flood overwhelm local infrastructure, displace families, damage properties, and disrupt normal lives in the areas affected.
Our reporter added that residents in places like Shara Community in Du-port Road, the Zayzay and parts of the Seekey Community including residents on the AB Tolbert Road who were affected by the flood are also calling on government for relocation.
James Doe, a resident of Zayzay Community shared his harrowing experience, saying, “The water tides rose so fast that we barely had time to gather our belongings and escape.”
“Our homes are now submerged, and we have lost everything. We are grateful for the assistance we have received so far since the morning but the road to recovery will be long and challenging,” he explained.
He added, “Even our shop holding some of our good stuffs was destroyed and it is something that brought serious losses to us. We just hope and pray that the government will come to our aid because we don’t have anywhere to go or turn.”
Meanwhile, all efforts to contact the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), proved futile as the institution Executive Director’s phone rang endlessly without answer.
As Liberians approach the heat of the raining season, the affected communities are further face the daunting task of rebuilding their lives, as the road to recovery and protection will require sustained support from the government, humanitarian organizations and the international community.
The devastating latest flood in Paynesville also serves as a reminder of the urgent need for robust disaster management strategies and climate change adaptation measures.
