Flash flood sweeps away market women’s goods at dove cut. Blocked drains leave traders counting their losses On October 1, 2026 Market women at Guard Street, popularly known as Dove Cut Market, were left counting their losses on Thursday after a sudden flash flood swept through the busy market during heavy rainfall. The floodwater moved quickly through the market, carrying away some of the goods displayed by market women and forcing traders to struggle to save what they could. Several shops were also flooded, with traders and shop owners rushing to move their goods to safer places as the water continued to rise. For the affected traders, the flooding came with more than just inconvenience.
Goods washed away by floodwater represents money lost, money that many of these women depend on to support their families and continue their businesses. Residents and traders in the area pointed to blocked drainage channels as one of the major problems. With rubbish and other materials obstructing the free flow of water, the heavy rain quickly turned the area into a flooded zone. The situation at Dove Cut is a warning that should not be ignored. Every rainy season, communities across Freetown face similar problems. Yet, in many places, drainage channels remain filled with plastic bags, bottles, dirt and other waste. When heavy rain comes, the blocked drains cannot carry the volume of water, leaving streets, markets and homes vulnerable to flooding. The Dove Cut incident should prompt the responsible authorities to pay greater attention to drainage channels around markets and other busy communities.
Regular cleaning of drains should not only happen after flooding. Blocked drainage channels need to be identified and cleared before heavy rainfall creates another emergency. Market women and residents also have a responsibility. Dumping rubbish into drains may appear harmless at the time, but when the rain comes, the consequences can be serious. The public must be encouraged to keep drainage channels free from waste and to report blocked drains before they become a threat to lives and livelihoods. For the women at Dove Cut, Thursday’s flood was a painful reminder of how quickly a day’s hard work can disappear. Shout Climate Change Africa Warning: blocked drains can turn heavy rain into a disaster. Keeping our drains clean is everyone’s responsibility.
