Togo flooding claims lives

LOM&EACUTE;, TOGO - Aug 03 2008 10:28

At least nine people have been killed in torrential floods that have submerged entire villages in Togo, the country's Minister of Transport and Highways, Ekpao Talaki, said on Saturday in a televised address.

Nine major bridges have been wiped out, stranding villagers in flooded hamlets, he said. As many as 5 000 people have been rendered homeless, according to the government's website, but aid workers say the number could be much higher.

Ghana, Togo's neighbour, sent in helicopters to rescue villagers trapped in their flooded homes. France sent a disaster crew on Friday from its peacekeeping mission in nearby Côte d'Ivoire.

But Togo's main opposition party criticised the government for not doing enough and called for an emergency session of Parliament to address the disaster.

President Faure Gnassingbe held an emergency Cabinet meeting on Saturday -- the third this week -- to come up with ways to combat the floods.

The flooding, which shows no sign of abating, was brought on by heavy monsoon rains. -- Sapa-AP

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