Ndian:
Inhabitants Trapped In Homes As Flood Overwhelms Bamusso
-Settlers of hardest hit village appeals for urgent intervention to avert catastrophe
Story, Prince Oben Agbor
Flood has overwhelmed the municipality of Bamusso Subdivision, Ndian Division of the South West Region resulting in inhabitants trapped in their homes. Municipal Updates gathered that, the dire situation is the outcome of high hides from the sea that resulted in water flowing uncontrollably into homes, leaving people helpless.
The locality of Bekumu in the Bamusso subdivision is the hardest hit. It is the first time that inhabitants of the area are witnessing such a phenomenon which they are attributing to climate change.
According to the Mayor of Bamusso Council, Meme Samuel Meme, water from the sea flooded the village in the early hours of Sunday, March 10 making movements and other activities difficult to carry out.
Water from the sea, he explained, flooded Bekumu from two directions, leaving residents trapped. Meme said it is also difficult for rescue actions to be carried out as water still continues to enter the village.
“It is difficult for villagers to cook,” the mayor said, disclosing that he will be in Bekumu today March 12 “to evaluate the situation. As I am talking to you now, water is still entering the village”.
The municipal authority called for external help to avoid a natural disaster in his municipality. Mayor Meme Samuel said the situation is made worst by devastating erosion.
Church services were impeded on Sunday morning as Christians found it difficult to step into the water to go and attend worship services.
Residents have also joined the mayor in appealing to the government to come to their rescue in the face of uncertainty.
To Councillor Motoma Daniel, a resident of Bekumu village, with the present situation, the village has no future.
He said Bekumu used to be one of the biggest fishing settlements in West Africa.
“Today, we cannot hit our chests anymore to say this village is one of the biggest settlements again because with the erosion that is taking place and the flood in Bekumu, we don’t have hope and we don’t have any place to go to”, Motoma said.
He added that: “We are appealing to the government to help us because if things are not done immediately and urgently in the nearest hours, we will not see Bekumu again”.
Bekumu is one of the most vibrant villages in Bamusso subdivision. It used to be a centre of attraction for visitors from across Cameroon especially during peak season for farming and commercial activities.