Communities in Montserrado County are experiencing severe flooding due to heavy rainfall. The situation is affecting several cities, including parts of Monrovia and Paynesville, where the floods have created significant impediments to movement and commuting for residents.
To date, no deaths have been reported by the Liberia National Disaster Management (LNDM). However, the floods have entered homes, damaging properties and displacing residents. The Liberian government has yet to intervene to assist those affected by the situation.
Many residents attribute the severity of the flooding to the construction of buildings on waterways and alleys designed to facilitate water drainage.
Historical context underscores the vulnerability of these areas: in 2023, around 15,200 people were affected by both urban and coastal floods, which swept away infrastructure, fishing settlements, houses, and community facilities.
On September 4, 2023, Monrovia and its environs experienced a major impact following five days of continuous rain from August 30, affecting approximately 12,450 people (1,778 households). The Liberia Meteorological Department has predicted continuous rains in September and October 2023 across all counties, which could trigger additional flooding in low-lying communities near rivers and streams. Urban flooding is also likely in areas with poor drainage systems, and flash flooding is a risk in areas downstream from large rivers after intense rainfall.
Since September 1, 2023, the floods have impacted three of Liberia’s 15 counties. The flooding incidence has increased following the five days of rain, with significant impacts in the respective counties. The flooding has also disrupted income-generating activities for many families.
In Gbarnga City, Bong County, heavy torrential rains on September 3, 2023, caused floods affecting 795 people. Gbarnga, the capital city of Bong County, lies northeast of Monrovia.
The most affected areas in Gbarnga are Rubber Factory, Civil Compound, and adjacent communities.
The highest recorded flood incident occurred on September 4, 2023, in Monrovia’s flood-prone and low-lying areas, affecting an overall 12,450 people. In Montserrado County, 32 communities have been experiencing flooding from five days of heavy torrential rains since August 30.
These communities, mostly along the St. Paul River, Stockton Creek, and the Du River, as well as dispersed floodplain areas along the Mesurado Wetlands, have faced recurring flooding over the past ten years.
Despite no reported deaths, the majority of affected families are displaced, seeking shelter in public buildings and with friends and relatives.
The floods have washed away all household items, including reserved food, compounding the economic crisis impacting these counties. The coping capacities of affected households are stretched thin.
Given the fluid situation and the forecast of continued heavy rainfall, it is imperative to address the immediate humanitarian needs of the affected families. Without support, their vulnerabilities will likely increase, extending the impact to additional communities in and beyond the currently affected counties.
Urgent efforts are needed to provide relief and aid to those impacted by the floods to mitigate further exposure and hardship.
