By Sulaiman Mansaray

The peaceful Pamaronkoh community was thrown into chaos on Thursday, 19th September 2024, when sea waters surged into homes, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. The flood, which occurred between 10:00 and 11:00 AM, caused widespread damage to properties and severely disrupted daily activities. This incident, unprecedented in the history of the coastal neighborhood, has left residents in shock and calling for immediate government attention.

According to local accounts, the flooding began suddenly as sea water, propelled by high tides, breached barriers and flooded homes. The inundation, which lasted for several hours, left families wading through waterlogged rooms, struggling to salvage their belongings. Many expressed frustrations over the loss of valuable possessions, which were either ruined or carried away by the floodwaters.

One such victim, Abdul Kanu, expressed his deep frustration over the extent of the damage caused by the flood. “This has never happened before,” Kanu lamented. “The sea water has destroyed some of my most valuable properties. It’s incredibly frustrating and disheartening to watch as water pours into your room and knowing there’s nothing you can do but try to remove it. Cleaning up has been a nightmare.”

Kanu went on to highlight a possible cause of the flood, attributing it to the ongoing sand mining activities near the coast. “They’ve been banking up the water to access more land for sand mining. This has blocked the natural flow of the water and now, for the first time, we’re seeing the sea water entering our homes.”

Fatmata Kargbo, another affected resident, shared her astonishment at the event, emphasizing how unprecedented this type of flooding was for the community. “I’ve lived here for many years, and I must say, this is beyond anything we’ve seen before. For sea water to flood into the rooms of so many residents is shocking. This situation requires urgent government intervention before it escalates further.”

Fatmata Kargbo, another victim of the flooding, voiced her surprise and concern: “This is shocking! We’ve lived here for years, and we’ve never seen the sea flood our homes like this. It’s beyond what anyone in this community could have anticipated. We need the government to step in urgently before it turns into a disaster that we regret.”

Kargbo’s concerns were echoed by others in the community, who have also called for immediate action from the authorities. She added, “At this point, we need help from the government. They must step in before we face an even bigger disaster. The flooding has disrupted everything, and it’s something that needs to be addressed seriously.” Many community members have pointed to the ongoing sand mining activities along the coast as the primary cause of the problem. According to them, the reckless banking and obstruction of waterways have interfered with the natural ebb and flow of the sea, increasing the risk of severe flooding.

Community elders and stakeholders have also raised alarms about the long-term consequences of the flooding. Pa Hassan Kamara, a long-time resident and respected figure in the community, expressed his dissatisfaction with the way things have developed. “I have lived in Pamaronkoh since I was a boy, and this has never happened before. The recent sand mining activities, where they bank the water to access land, have disturbed the natural flow of the sea. It’s disturbing to think that this is the price we’re paying for trying to mine sand.”

Kamara pointed out that blocking the water’s natural path for land reclamation is a dangerous practice, one that is likely to cause even more severe flooding in the future. “How can you stop the natural flow of the sea just because you want to access more land for mining? This is the result, and I’m afraid it will only get worse.”

The situation must draw the attention of environmental activists and local authorities, who should be under pressure to investigate the root cause of the flooding and take preventive measures. Meanwhile, the residents of Pamaronkoh remain in distress, awaiting a response from the government and local leaders. Many are hoping for the construction of proper drainage systems and coastal defences to protect their homes from future floods.

The sudden and unprecedented nature of the flood serves as a wake-up call to the community and the authorities, highlighting the urgent need for a sustainable approach to land development and environmental conservation in Freetown’s coastal areas. As the rainy season progresses, the residents of Pamaronkoh are left with an unsettling question: will the next flood be even worse? For now, the people of this close-knit community continue their recovery efforts, but the scars left by the flood are likely to linger for some time to come.