Société

“We Must Be Responsible How We Use Our Environment”

Par Nkeze
26 mars 2020 11:12
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George Mafany Teke Ph.D, Geologist, South West Regional Delegate of Scientific Research and Innovation, Buea

and Innovation, Buea

Mr Regional Delegate of Scientific Research and Innovation for the South West Region, Buea is under the pangs of floods, what happened and were there any casualties?

To the best of my knowledge, no human casualties have been reported. Some people lost their property anyway. That is the information we have got so far. The areas affected mostly are where the water went overboard the ravines and flowed on the roads. The areas affected include the Regional Hospital Annex Junction, the road from Nakuve Junction to the Parliamentarian Flats Hotel, the ravine that is flowing along the length of the road from the Divisional Officer’s road Junction to the Buea Council. A number of spots in this area were over flooded and then at the lower reaches of the municipality around Bunduma area were observed flooding as well. Further down in front of the Second District Police Station Molyko, opposite the Regional Delegation of Scientific Research and Innovation and the GCE Board, there was flooding too.

What can be the cause of this water flood in Buea at this time?

It is a normal phenomenon. What happened was that it rained in Buea City. But the intensity of the rain in the Buea municipality was not severe enough to cause flooding. What caused the flooding was the rain that fell on the mountain that was more intense and more severe. When it fell on the mountain it flooded the ravines and anyone who was keen could see that some of the ravines that are usually dry on the mountain were full with water. That is what caused the flood downwards in the city. The second thing is that our attitude as people who live in this city should be conditioned to function with the environment. When people dump refuse in waterways and ravines thinking that water will not flow in them again, it is not correct. When rains or water comes because of the debris that is found in the water itself coupled with the refuse it causes the waterways to be blocked. This is because water will always find its way. That is why it leaves its channel and goes to places that are undesirable.

Has this happened before in recent times?

It happened in 2005 and in 2011. It is however a common phenomenon for us to have floods up on the mountain. How it affects the municipality is usually conditioned by our behavior because along the waterways people have encroached. People build houses along the water ways. They put infrastructure that has reduced the channels of water. Those are some of the causes of floods otherwise the water will flow normally without being a disaster.

There was some insinuation that a seismic cause may have been linked to this severe rains and floods. Is it true?