MONROVIA – The management of Kpatawee Waterfall, one of Liberia’s finest tourism resorts, which was engulfed and overflowed by water last weekend, is pleading for help to restore the resort, as it is a source of pride for Liberia.
By Mae Azango, [email protected]
Mrs. Josephine Salee Richardson stated that the water has caused damage to properties worth over US$100,000. They were unable to evacuate in time due to the strong water current.
“There is so much work to be done, but I am alone and cannot do it all by myself. Therefore, a GoFundMe campaign for the restoration of Kpatawee Waterfall has been launched with a target of raising US$75,000. So far, US$125 of that amount has been contributed through three donations from friends in the US and Liberia. I am appealing to generous individuals and organizations to please contribute to this campaign at the following link: https://gofund.me/02aaf9e7. Even a small contribution, in cash or kind, can make a difference. Alternatively, you can contact me at the following phone numbers: 231775845754/231886516787,” she said.
Kpatawee Waterfall is situated in Gbarnga, Bong County, and recently experienced an unforeseen disaster that began on the previous Friday evening and continued until Sunday, when the water level continued to rise, sweeping away everything in its path.
Mrs. Richardson recounted that on Sunday morning around 1 a.m., the security personnel woke her up to inform her that the water had breached the boundaries. At that time, there were guests sleeping, but they were not disturbed, and they watched the rising water until daybreak. By 7 a.m., they instructed the guests to evacuate as the water was approaching. The guests hastily packed their belongings, and as the water encroached, they used a rope tied to the huts to guide them to safety due to the strong current.
“We had no way to move our four vehicles, so the water engulfed them. Fortunately, the buildings were constructed to allow water to pass through, but the mud huts were damaged. The water rose so high, nearly reaching my waist. Even the dirt road we had fixed to reach Kpatawee was washed away by the flood. Our rice farm suffered the same fate as the water swept away everything in its path. We managed to salvage some mattresses, which were floating on the water, and placed them outside to dry,” she said.
She also mentioned that the guests who had come for the weekend had left their cars up the road and walked to Kpatawee, which was fortunate. However, four of her vehicles were submerged along with many other items they couldn’t rescue due to the swift current. Throughout Sunday, they attempted to relocate belongings, but they couldn’t keep up with the rising water.
Mrs. Richardson expressed gratitude to the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL), stationed in Bong County, who were the first to provide assistance. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also conducted an assessment, and some close friends who heard the news came to check on them. She was, however, disappointed that no one from the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism reached out or visited.
“The current in the water was so strong that we moved up the road, set up a cooking area outdoors, and erected a canopy. We spent two nights outside, keeping an eye on the water levels. My main concern was saving lives, and thankfully, no one was injured, even though glass bottles were submerged in the water. I am relieved to be alive,” she said.
Mrs. Richardson found the situation quite unusual and surprising, as this was the first such disaster in the three years since she took over the place. She was on-site when it happened and was able to witness the source of the flooding.
“My workers were incredibly helpful. Some of the girls walked through the water from the village to investigate what was happening, and a few even stayed with us. We managed to cook some rice that we retrieved, as most of our food supplies were lost to the water,” she added.
She mentioned that she had traveled to Monrovia to purchase essential supplies like bedding and food, as the water had carried away everything she had stored outside. However, she planned to return soon to oversee the cleanup, clear away the mud, and assess the condition of the sticks used to build the small huts (gbaffas), which were all soaked by the water.