Introduction
Freetown, the capital city of Sierra Leone, is squeezed between hilltops and the peninsular mountains on the West African coastline, with approximately 1.2 million population. It experiences above 3,500mm annual downpours of rains from May to October, stalling businesses and endangering livelihoods. But most times, due to climatic fluctuations, the rainy season will start in June and end in November, encroaching in the Dry Season with a brief windy rain.
Freetown is densely populated with informal settlements, highly prone to floods, landslides, erosion, tropical storms, deforestation, and sea-level rise. But what happens during the rainy season?
Flooding associated with Improper Waste Management in Freetown
Mostly, when it rains heavily in Freetown, streets are flooded with smelly garbage due to improper waste management in the city. A report by Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) revealed that Freetown generates at least 600 metric tons of waste per year or 219,000 metric tons of waste annually.
Wastes/garbage are dumped in drainages and culverts, blocking storm water drains and causing water to overflow on streets and residents. During heavy rainfalls in Freetown, the risk of flooding is high due to the improper disposal of wastes in drains or culverts. Improper waste management also leads to environmental degradation, making the city more susceptible to flooding.
In the rainy season, flooding is more common in low-lying areas and areas with poor drainage systems. Market areas are mostly stormed by floods, causing traffic and destroying commodities.
Landslides in Freetown due to Improper Housing Structure and Deforestation.
Over the years, the city has experienced landslides in different communities during the rainy season, resulting in casualties and injuries. The most notable flooding and mudslide incident in the city was on the 14th of August 2017, which led to the deaths of at least more than 1,000 people according to the World Bank.
Also, last year, there were two recorded cases of landslides in different parts of the city, which resulted in four casualties, according to a report by the country’s National Disaster Management.
Houses built on hillside areas and mountains without any stringent deforestation actions, often lead to soil erosion and the sloping of soil during the rainy season.
Sometimes, days of nonstop rains can also cause damage to residents, induce fatal accidents and injuries, call off appointments, and restrict citizens from going out.
An Influx of foul-smelling seaweed smothers Freetown’s Beaches in the Raining Season
During the rainy season in Freetown, an influx of brown rotten seaweeds scatter all over the white-sand beaches, acting as a setback to tourists’ attraction, clogging fishing boats, and hampering the fishing industry for fishermen and fishmongers. Freetowneans have raised several complaints about these seaweeds, but they often disappear in the Dry Season after efforts by government officials to get rid of them. And then it only reappears in the rainy season.
Freetown’s marine life, the fishing industry and the tourism sector are mostly at threat in the rainy season, inundated by the stench smell of seaweed and other environmental issues.
Despite the city being faced with several climate change issues, the rainy season still plays an active role in agriculture, helping crops to grow, and sustaining livestock. It helps to restore the natural beauty of the city, with fresh-looking green trees surrounding its environs.
Conclusion
The government’s efforts to actively respond to disasters in the country have preempted solutions to these environmental hazards this year, launching the Risk Disaster Management Plan from 2024 – 2029.
