The National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) has cautioned residents living along the White and Black Volta Lakes to be alert and temporarily move to higher grounds for safety ahead of the spillage of the Bagre dam from Burkina Faso.
The Northern Regional Director of NADMO, Mr. Abdallah Salifu, in a statement on Monday (September 11, 2023) announced for the information of the general public to be on the alert and move to higher grounds.
He said a report received from authorities at SONABEL Energy in Burkina Faso reveals the dam water level as September 8, 2023, was rising rapidly owing to the imminent spillage.
“According to the report, the spillage is high since the current Bagre Dam level as at today 08/09/2023 is 235.06m, as against the maximum spillage level of 235m. The report further indicates that, the water level of the Bagre Dam seems to be rising rapidly” the statement said.
Mr. Abdallah emphasized, “This flood alert therefore is to inform farmers and the general public, the communities along the White and Black Volta Lakes to avoid flood waters as well as our development partners to be on the alert, and to get all the communities who may be at risk to move to higher grounds, since the rivers has overflown its banks and some farms along rivers are flooded.”
The NADMO Director also entreated the public to be wary of natural habitats such as reptiles being disturbed along the rivers as the risk of snake bites are high during this period.
“The reptiles are also struggling for survival as they move upland, on debris and top of trees along the rivers” he stressed.