-In Several Communities in Nimba County
By Shallon S. Gonlor
shallonsgonlor@gmail.com
NIMBA COUNTY, Liberia — An intense rainfall exceeding approximately 100 millimeters within eight hours early Monday morning, October 5, 2026, has triggered widespread flooding across parts of Nimba County, severely affecting communities, disrupting transportation and commercial activities, damaging homes and businesses, and forcing several families from their residences.
The torrential downpour overwhelmed drainage systems in several communities as rapidly rising floodwaters reportedly entered homes, businesses and public spaces.
The flooding disrupted normal social and economic activities and heightened concerns about the safety and well-being of residents, particularly children, elderly people and other vulnerable groups.
Several structures were reportedly damaged or collapsed under the pressure of floodwaters, while affected households lost personal belongings, household items and other essential property. In some communities, residents said they spent sleepless nights as floodwaters entered their homes, submerged household belongings and threatened the structural integrity of their buildings.
Schoolchildren Face Increased Flooding Risks
The flooding also raised serious concerns about the safety of schoolchildren, with heavy rainwater reportedly flowing across or near school zones and along routes used by students traveling to and from school.
Residents said children in some affected communities have been forced to navigate flooded pathways, raising concerns about possible drowning and other accidents, particularly where drainage channels and roads have been submerged.
Parents and community members are calling for urgent intervention to protect children and other vulnerable residents as the rainy season continues throughout October. The flooding severely affected major road corridors connecting cities, towns and villages across Nimba County, including routes leading toward key land-border crossing points linking Liberia with neighboring Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea and Sierra Leone.
Vehicles and motorcycles were reportedly forced to navigate through deep floodwaters in several affected areas, while pedestrians had little choice but to cross flooded sections of roads to reach their destinations. The disruption has affected transportation and commercial activities at a time when many residents depend on daily movement between communities for trade, farming, employment and other livelihoods.
Some businesses, including the former Nimba County Superintendent Rachael Miller’s Resort in Sanniquellie City, reportedly suffered significant losses after floodwaters entered commercial establishments, damaging goods and other property. In Sanniquellie, several victims are appealing for urgent humanitarian assistance to help them recover and rebuild their lives following the destruction of their homes.
Ophelia Joe, a mother of seven, said her four-bedroom house collapsed during the flooding, leaving her family without a safe place to stay.
Joe said she was uncertain about where she and her children would resettle following the destruction of their home. For families already struggling to meet their daily needs, the loss of shelter and household possessions has created an additional burden, particularly as the rainy season continues to pose risks to vulnerable communities.
Amelia M. Walakah, a single mother, also expressed distress over the unexpected devastation. Walakah said the worsening flooding toward the end of the rainy season has heightened her fears about what could happen to affected families should additional heavy rainfall occur. She joined other residents in appealing for emergency intervention to assist families whose homes and belongings have been destroyed.
Patricia Dolo, another single mother affected by the flooding, has also joined calls for humanitarian assistance for victims.
Those affected fear that additional heavy rainfall could worsen the situation, particularly in communities already experiencing damaged roads, inadequate drainage systems and vulnerable housing conditions, as the rainy season continues.
Residents are urging the Nimba County Administration and national authorities, humanitarian organizations and other partners to assess the extent of the damage and provide emergency assistance to affected families. They are also calling for longer-term measures, including improved drainage networks, flood-control infrastructure, safer housing arrangements in flood-prone communities and stronger enforcement of environmental regulations.
For affected households, the immediate priority remains finding safe shelter, securing food and drinking water, and protecting children and other vulnerable family members from further harm as Nimba continues to experience heavy seasonal rainfall.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) and Ministry of Public Works have previously attributed severe flooding in some communities to inadequate drainage systems, construction on wetlands and waterways, and improper disposal of solid waste.
