As heavy rains continue to pour, residents along the peninsular axis within the Western Rural district, Tombo and John Obey communities were left speechless as the uncontrollable water made way for itself last Tuesday 6th August 2019 through their houses. Tombo community is dominated and well known for its fishing activities by locals who sail through the Atlantic Ocean with their wooden boats day and night fishing, along with John Obey community that shares border with Kent, Black Johnson and Tokeh communities. At Tombo on Wednesday 7th August, it was observed that over 20 houses were partly destroyed whiles some were washed down. Women and children were seen washing their clothes, draining their mattresses, wiping their electronics, while the men were busy clearing the debris inside their houses.
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Business people with tears on their faces were seen with their family members displaying their wet goods under the shallow sun for possible sales if they are in good shape. According to one of the flood victims in Tombo, Mohamed P. Kamara, owner of a 17 bed room flats that was dismantled by the forceful water, it was around 2pm when his wife informed him that water had taken over their house but did not act promptly, thinking it was just a prank. “I received distress calls from neighbors claiming my three children have been swept away by the flash flood so I rushed home and found my house half way covered with water” he recalled. He said he forced through the water in search of his children but could not see them. Later he was informed by his friend that his children are safe in his (his friend) house, but realised all his belongings including the free education text/exercise books supplied to his children together with those of his tenants had been washed into the sea. The Producer of Princess Music based in Tombo, Jay Rhymes Tarawally, whiles drying out his studio equipment under the sun said, the cause of the flooding in their community was as a result of blockage in a bridge on which a two stories house was constructed recently, disclosing all his equipment had been destroyed by the flood. “I really don’t know where to start. My only means of survival has been destroyed,” he said, calling on philanthropist to come to his aid so he can rebuild his studio. A mother of 3 and grandmother of 7, Madam Mabinty Conteh, a wood seller, dressed on torn clothes, explained, she had lived in her house for 35 years and have never experienced such disaster. “What I saw on Tuesday is unbelievable. People were shouting from everywhere for their lives and properties as the desperate water rushed into our houses washing away our properties” she cried. Thombay Fofanah, a popular Businessman in Tombo whiles cleaning his shop said, goods worth over Le 100m had been destroyed as the water filled his shop. He said he was only managing to pick out some of the goods he believes are not too damaged. Andrew Junior Sesay, an eye witness in John Obey community, said around 2pm on Tuesday the bridge linking their community to other communities coming towards Tokeh was completely covered by the water after about an hour of heavy downpour of rains. “The bridge was constructed in 2003 replacing the old one that was constructed during the colonial era,” he said. The tarmac on top of the bridge was completely removed with some serious damages at the edges of the bridge on both side. James Mohamed Sesay, a resident close to the bridge explained that the house next to the his own was halfway covered with water and properties were being flushed out as the residents fought their way out for their lives. He said since the construction of the said bridge in 2003, there had never been such incident. Most of the victims of the flash flood in Tombo were sheltered closer to the Tombo Police Station awaiting humanitarian support to keep their lives going especially when parents are preparing for the next academic year.
By Alhaji Manika Kamara
Thursday August 08, 2019.
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