Flood Deaths in Kumasi Rise to 8

THE NUMBER of deaths recorded in the recent floods that followed a heavy downpour in the Ashanti region on Thursday, has risen to eight.

Several communities in the Region, including some suburbs of Kumasi, were submerged by flooding waters, destroying life and valuable properties.

There were initial reports that seven deaths were recorded, as a result of the heavy downpour, which lasted for several hours, but Kwabena Nsenkyire, the Ashanti Regional National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) Director, has announced that the death toll was actually eight, and not seven as was initially broadcasted.

According to him, several people also got injured and properties, worth thousands of Ghana cedis, were destroyed by the floods, adding that NADMO officials in the region did a yeoman’s job on that fateful day to limit the death toll.

Nsenkyire said the flood menace in Kumasi and the Ashanti region in general, is self-afflicted, stressing that human actions cause the floods.

According to him, some people have built houses in waterways while others also dump garbage in gutters and unapproved areas, resulting in chocked drains.

Meanwhile, the Mayor of Kumasi, Osei Assibey Antwi, has ordered the temporary closure of the Total Filling Station at Anloga Junction in Kumasi, which was submerged by flood waters on that day.

He said officials of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would inspect to see if the filling station is conducive to operate again.

He also announced that some unapproved structures at Dagomba Line, which blocked water from flowing, have also been demolished by the assembly.

By: Akwasi Boakye