By Chernor Alimamy Kamara
Due to the heavy downpour of rain in the early hours of Wednesday 10th May 2023, a woman with a nine-month-old pregnancy, Marie Kamara died after a nearby concrete fence collapsed, bringing down her house and nearby houses in the Bankole community at Clinetown, close to Queen Elizabeth II Quay (Water Quay).
Four others were said to have also perished under the rubble that fateful day according to residents.
With tears running down his cheeks, the husband of Marie, Alusine Suma told Politico that he was out that morning when the incident took place. He said he was called by a friend who informed him that flooding has taken over their house and that his wife and child were buried under the rubble.
He said through the help of the community people and the military personnel situated at the quay, they were able to rescue their little daughter but it was too late for help to reach his wife.
Suma said the flooding occurred as a result of the port’s perimeter fence lacking a drainage facility to empty the water into the sea which led to the fence caving in.
He said the community people had at one time gone to the authorities at the port to inform them about the dangers posed by the fence.
He expressed disappointment that since the incident took place they are yet to see the port management. He said the late woman left him with four children and pleaded to authorities and well-meaning Sierra Leoneans to come to their aid as an affected community.
“I lost a very dedicated wife who is difficult to replace, and all my properties are gone. Even these I’m wearing were given to me by people,” said Suma.
Another victim of the flooding, Chernor Jah explained that the gushing water was so intense that nothing would have stopped it from entering their homes. He said the damaged fence was erected over twenty years ago by the port.
He said the other fence built by fuel dealers has experienced cracks for quite some time before this incident occurred. He went on to say that flooding of this magnitude has never happened in the history of their community.
Jah called on philanthropists to come to their aid as the flooding has taken all their belongings. He said even though they have stayed in the community for a very long time if any help comes their way for evacuation, they are ready and willing to move.
He added that many have already started leaving the community, but those that don’t have another place to go to are still around. He was afraid that they don’t know when the remaining fence will fall since the rainy season has just started.
Politico tried to reach the management of the port, but some staff stated that they were in a meeting and could not grant us access. They promised to respond to our inquiries after the meeting which did not happen up to press time.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (12/05/23)
