The Assembly Member for the Odawna Sahara Electoral Area, Hendrick Noble Kinnah has disclosed that more than 300 people were rescued during the recent flooding that swept through parts of the municipality. The Assembly Member stated that provisional data currently points to over 2,000 affected households and more than 22,000 impacted residents.

Addressing the scale of the disaster, Mr Kinnah described the flooding as one of the most devastating incidents he has witnessed in the municipality. He noted that the impact stretched far beyond a single community and affected several densely populated areas.

Discussing the rescue operation, the Assembly Member explained that specially trained lifeguards played a critical role in saving residents trapped in floodwaters. He said eight young rescuers who received water safety training were quickly mobilised to support emergency response efforts.

Their intervention, he indicated, helped prevent further casualties during the peak of the flooding. Additionally, Mr Kinnah commended the rescue team for responding swiftly under difficult and dangerous conditions.

“What happened this time came as a shock to me. I was born and bred here, and the scale of this flooding has changed how we think about disaster preparedness in this municipality.”
Hendrick Noble Kinnah

Discussing the geographical spread of the disaster across the municipality, Mr Kinnah revealed that communities including Odorna, Asylum Down, Official Town and parts of Osu recorded severe levels of destruction.

The focus remained on both human and material losses as assessments continued. The NADMO Coordinator stated that the figures remain provisional because new reports continue to emerge from affected communities.

Moreover, he explained that the affected population includes children, adults and vulnerable residents displaced by floodwaters. The municipal disaster team, he added, is still receiving fresh reports from residents who were unable to report earlier.

Pointing out those affected by fire outbreaks linked to the flooding, Mr Kinnah disclosed that 341 individuals were directly affected by fire-related incidents recorded during the emergency period.

He further indicated that traders, mechanics and transport operators suffered extensive commercial losses across the municipality. Thousands of market sheds, damaged goods and affected garages have added to the economic toll of the disaster.

“Over 300 people were rescued. More than 2,000 households and over 22,000 people have been affected, and these numbers are still provisional as reports continue to come in.”
Hendrick Noble Kinnah

As emergency assessments continue, municipal authorities remain focused on relief coordination and data collection. Mr Kinnah reiterated that every verified case will be captured to ensure support reaches all affected households.

Cleanup Efforts Intensify As Waste Removal Continues

The aftermath of the floods has directed attention toward sanitation and recovery operations across the municipality. Waste evacuation and debris clearance have become central to efforts aimed at restoring normal activity in major commercial areas.

Addressing post-flood recovery, the Assembly Member disclosed that additional victims continue to report losses at market centres. He explained that some traders whose properties were destroyed had yet to register their names with officials.

In response, a dedicated reporting desk has been established to capture fresh claims and update assessment records. This process, Mr Kinnah said, is expected to provide a clearer picture of the full extent of economic losses.

Furthermore, he stated that urgent waste removal operations are underway in flood-hit markets. The operation is intended to prevent damaged goods and contaminated materials from returning into circulation through resale.

“We are evacuating refuse from the market because we do not want anyone repackaging damaged goods for resale. Every unsafe material must be removed to protect public health.”
Hendrick Noble Kinnah

Closely associated with this effort is the deployment of trucks to transport waste to designated dump sites. Mr Kinnah indicated that collection began immediately after floodwaters receded and has continued steadily.

However, the cleanup exercise has faced major logistical setbacks. Wet dumping grounds, difficult terrain and heavy traffic have slowed the movement of waste disposal vehicles.

In light of these difficulties, the NADMO Coordinator explained that recent dredging efforts have also been undermined by persistent rainfall. He noted that drains were dredged roughly two weeks before the floods, yet heavy rains resumed the very next day.

The repeated rainfall, he said, caused fresh silt accumulation and complicated drainage management. As a result, removing sludge and dredged materials has become increasingly difficult.

Additionally, saturated dump sites have created operational delays for sanitation teams. Trucks transporting waste frequently struggle to move efficiently because of muddy access routes.

Mr Kinnah stressed that municipal authorities remain determined to clear all refuse and restore sanitary conditions across affected areas. He added that disaster recovery now requires both immediate intervention and long-term resilience planning. Municipal teams, he remarked, will continue operations until visible waste and debris are fully removed from public spaces.