By Alie Turay
Residents along the slums and other areas in Freetown, on Wednesday faced one of the worst challenges in their life, as their houses were flooded due to a heavy downpour of rain lasting over four hours.
It could be recalled that Sierra Leone was named among the three high risk countries that are prone danger, as a result of heavy rains, and the former Sierra Leone Peoples Party Government did make efforts to relocate residents along the slums of Freetown, particularly those at Kroo Bay and people living under high tension cables, but all efforts were fruitless.
The ruling All Peoples Congress (APC) also attempted a similar venture with reference to the recent demolition exercise carried out by the Ministry of Tourism and the National Tourist Board, but was also halted due to some reasons unknown to members of the public.
Yesterday residents of Kroo Bay, Congo Town, Pahama (back of Globe Cinema), who had resisted several calls to stop banking coastal and waterway areas were calling on Government to evict them.
What was alarming was that some of the main streets of Freetown became flood theatres, as vehicles were overwhelmed by the torrent of water while main buildings played hosts to water from the hills.
Several people were reported missing but the main thrust of the disaster was not only confined to the slums but the city centre as well.
Pademba Road between Campbell Street Junction and Dundas Street was completely cut off from traffic as the water level rose, preventing traffic flow.
At Congo Cross down to Murray Town junction, traffic came to a standstill as the King Street Road which is under construction had its debris dragged down the road blocking movement of vehicles including ambulances.
Congo Town slum by the coastal area had many of its shanty houses washed away while the Kroo Bay Community School played host to garbage and water a few minutes before the children were evacuated to safety.
Kroo Bay which is a recurring incident of such disasters was this time the scene of a comedy while the disaster raged.
Pigs were carted away by youths who capitalized on the fact that their owners were trying to save their lives instead of the animals.
Parents also ran helter skelter trying to locate their children not only in the Bay area but all over the city.
The Holy Trinity Church opposite the Annie Walsh Memorial School also tasted the flooding as the main Kissy Road was flooded.
Lumley, Tengbeh Town (Bobogier) were also not spared. Neither was Wilkinson Road, Krootown Road, Brook Street, Samba Gutter, Grey Bush, Spur Loop, Spur Road, Malamah and other hillside areas.