V/R: Schools closed to accommodate tidal waves victims

The over 1000 victims of the tidal waves which rocked some coastal communities in the Ketu South municipality of Volta region have been provided temporary shelters in school buildings.

The victims, who are residents of some fishing communities sandwich between the sea and the lagoon, had their homes submerged by the sea water when the high tides broke banks Sunday dawn.

Close to 300 households in the Blekusu, Gavedzi, Amudzinu and Salakope communities were affected with properties running to several thousands of cedis destroyed.

As an ad-hoc measure, officials of the National Disaster Management Organization NADMO and the Ketu South Municipal Assembly secured some schools in the affected areas, such the Roman Catholic and the AME Zion Basic schools for the displaced residents to put up for the time been.

The Volta Regional Minister, Dr. Archibald Letsa who toured the affected areas said, those schools have been closed temporarily for the situation normalise.

He also indicated that efforts are being made to get the contractor working on a sea defense project started in the area in 2016, to resume work as soon as possible.

Chief of Blekusu, Torgbui Agbali III, who described the disaster as the worst ever to befall the area, called for government support to enable them relocate from area to a higher ground as a permanent solution to the perennial problem.

Mr. Divine Benson, Volta Regional Coordinator of NADMO, said a report has been forward to Accra for necessary assistance following the conduct of an impact assessment and registration of all affected residents.

Meanwhile, three fishing boats with outboard motors and nets have also been destroyed by the high tides at Kedzi in the Keta municipality.