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What happened, where and when?
By mid-September 2024, the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) reported extensive flooding across Sierra Leone, significantly impacting communities, farmlands, businesses, and infrastructure. By 23 September 2024, the NDMA had identified 27 flood events across multiple districts, affecting 3,330 households and 23,596 people. The hardest-hit areas included Bo, Bonthe, Bombali, Falaba, Kambia, Moyamba, Tonkolili, Port Loko, Pujehun, and the Western Area.
Heavy rainfall from Guinea triggered these floods, resulting in the collapse of 167 buildings, including 27 essential infrastructures such as schools, hospitals, and places of worship. Additionally, 7,324 hectares of farmland were ooded, and many roads remained impassable, disrupting local economies. Between August and September 23, further floods were reported, displacing over 50 communities and affecting more than 1,500 farmers, jeopardizing both current food supplies and long-term recovery.
On 23 September 2024, the overflow of the Bumbuna Dam due to excessive rainfall led to severe flooding in downstream communities, displacing 716 people and causing significant property losses. Stagnant floodwaters also compromised water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities, raising concerns about waterborne diseases such as cholera and typhoid, and increasing the risk of malaria due to mosquito breeding.
The NDMA, in collaboration with the Sierra Leone Meteorological Agency, monitored rainfall patterns and noted that heavy rains in Guinea, particularly from rivers originating in the Futa Jallon Highlands, had exacerbated the situation. The African Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Action Systems had predicted this heavy precipitation, worsening the flood crisis in Sierra Leone.
NDMA officials visited affected areas, urging residents to protect themselves from waterborne diseases and ensure the safety of drinking water sources. The agency coordinated with partners such as the World Food Programme (WFP), Sierra Leone Red Cross Society (SLRCS), and the Food Systems Resilience Project (FSRP) to conduct detailed assessments and deliver an effective humanitarian response. Citizens were encouraged to report flood-affected communities or emergencies via the NDMA’s toll-free line (1199) or by visiting regional offices across the country.