Post a comment 
Residents of Susan’s Bay in Freetown woke up to severe flooding in the morning hours of Saturday, May 23, 2026, after heavy rainfall caused a waste-filled gutter in the community to overflow, leaving homes and pathways submerged.
According to residents, the flooding occurred after a major drainage gutter, which has long been used as a dumping site for household waste, became blocked during the downpour.
The blockage reportedly prevented rainwater from flowing freely, forcing water to spill into nearby homes and narrow walkways across the coastal settlement.
Community members said the gutter shifted under the pressure of the accumulated water after it could no longer drain effectively. Residents blamed the situation on the build-up of household garbage and silt inside the drainage channel, which they say has become a recurring problem during the rainy season.
Susan’s Bay, a densely populated low-lying coastal community in Freetown, remains highly vulnerable to flooding due to poor drainage systems and its proximity to the sea. Residents said overcrowding and the presence of informal toilet structures further worsen the impact of heavy rainfall in the area.
Several residents also linked the recurring floods to indiscriminate waste dumping and increasingly intense rainfall patterns, which they believe are being worsened by climate change.
They warned that unless drainage systems are properly maintained and waste disposal practices improve, the community will continue to face repeated flooding incidents during the rainy season.
The flooding disrupted movement within the community, with water entering homes and making several pathways difficult to access.
Residents are calling for urgent intervention to improve drainage infrastructure and address waste management challenges in the area. No casualties were immediately reported at the time of reporting.
