Tidal Waves Wash Out 1,500 In Volta

One of the affected houses

Some communities along the coast in the Keta municipality of the Volta Region were Sunday morning hit by strong tidal waves.

The affected communities are Keta, Vodza, Kedzikofe and Blekusu – which is by far the worst hit in the latest incident.

Latest reports indicate that over 240 houses were flooded, with properties worth thousands of Ghana cedis also destroyed. Those displaced were estimated to be about 1,500 people.

A good number of the affected residents – women and children being worst affected – have already taken refuge in homes of relatives in other communities. They have pleaded with the government and philanthropists to come to their aid.

Speaking to the media, some residents of the affected communities indicated that the waves invaded their communities at about 2:00 am yesterday.

So far, they had counted the destruction of five fishing canoes and six outboard motors at Vodza, Kedzikofe and Blekusu. They also recorded the destruction of a good number of fishing nets.

Christopher Mensah, Assembly Member for Vodza and Joseph Afetorgbor, chief fisherman of Vodza area, confirmed that two large fishing canoes with fishing nets and outboard motors were destroyed by the rushing waves at Vodza.

At Kedzikope, two fishing canoes were also destroyed with all their fishing gears, including nets and outboard motors. At Blekusu, one fishing canoe with its fishing nets and two Yamaha outboard motors were also completely destroyed by the waves.

In all, the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) has collated about 140 names of fishermen whose fishing canoes, nets and outboard motors were destroyed.

As at press time last night, no casualties had been recorded in all the affected communities, except that Blekusu recorded the highest number of homes destroyed and persons displaced.

Meanwhile, the Volta Regional Minister, Dr. Archiebald Letsa, has visited the affected communities to sympathize with them and provide some support. The minister, who was in the company of the Keta Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) and the Regional NADMO Coordinator, Divine Bosson, assured residents that plans were far advanced to get them relief items.

Earlier, some angry residents mounted road blocks to register their protest against what they complained was the usual lip service in saving them from the annual tidal waves.

However, the MCE Elliot Edem Agbenorwu, calmed tempers and assured them of a better handling of their problems.

Tidal waves have been affecting the region yearly with the last one being 2016 where several communities, such as Fuveme, Horve, Havedzi, Dzita, Srogboe, Anyanui and Whuti were badly hit. The promise by NADMO to resettle the victims is yet to be fulfilled.

 

From Fred Duodu, Ho (freduoo@gmail.com)

 

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