The National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) has revealed alarming statistics on the impact of recent floods, recording a staggering 167 building collapses across Sierra Leone.

This disaster has severely affected 3,330 households, disrupting the lives of over 23,500 people and damaging critical infrastructure, including schools, hospitals, and places of worship.

Flooding incidents have swept through chiefdoms in several districts, including Bo, Bonthe, Bombali, Kambia, and the Western Area.

Preliminary reports from the NDMA attribute these floods largely to heavy transboundary rainfall from Guinea, which caused rivers to overflow from the Futa Jallon Highlands into Sierra Leone.

The floods have inundated 7,324 hectares of farmland, rendering many roads impassable for more than a week, crippling local economies.

The NDMA, in partnership with the Sierra Leone Meteorological Agency, has been monitoring the situation closely.

Weather forecasts from the African Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Action Systems predicted heavy rains in Guinea, which have now led to widespread devastation in Sierra Leone.

In addition to structural damages, NDMA officials have raised concerns about the heightened risk of waterborne diseases in flood-hit communities.

Residents have been urged to remain vigilant and protect drinking water sources from contamination. The Agency continues to collaborate with partners like the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Sierra Leone Red Cross Society to assess the situation and coordinate a humanitarian response.

Citizens are encouraged to report emergencies through NDMA’s toll-free line, 1199, or visit their regional offices for assistance as recovery efforts continue.