Severe flooding has disrupted traffic flow along the Rumbek-Yirol section of the Juba-Bahr el Ghazal Highway in Lakes State, overturning several vehicles.
Commuter and goods vehicles and passengers have now been stranded for three days in the forests in areas of Aerial-teen, Ameeth, and near Aluakluak Payam in Yirol West County after being blocked by two trucks that were upturned by the floodwaters.
Butrus Sansalawe, a driver who was transporting passengers in a Toyota LandCruiser from Wau in Western Bahr el Ghazal State, told Radio Tamazuj Monday afternoon that they arrived at the flooded section of the road at 6:00 a.m. that morning only to find the road blocked by a heavy truck.
“We have been stranded here since (Monday) morning due to the poor road conditions and we are appealing to the ARC country director to come and help with opening the road. Since morning, we have been marooned in floodwaters without access to food or drinking water and the situation is dire,” he said. “We urge Lakes State authorities to liaise with ARC to promptly start repairs. Even Governor Rin Tueny of Lakes State passed by here a few minutes ago on his way to Yirol and saw the road’s condition. Our plea to ARC is to expedite the repair of the Bahr el Ghazal road.”
According to the driver, both sides of the road to Juba, from Payii to Aluakluak Payam, are currently impassable for vehicles.
A driver of a heavy goods truck, Bichak Riak, who was traveling to Juba from Unity State through the Bahr el Ghazal road on Monday, said the flooding had brought all movement to a standstill.
“Our journey from Unity State has been arduous due to bad roads but we have been stranded for about four days. I drive a large truck and you can observe that smaller vehicles have also stopped because there is no viable way to traverse the flooded areas,” he stated. “My urgent message to the Government of South Sudan is to promptly address the repairs on the Juba-Bahr el Ghazal road for the well-being of the citizens. The flooding is currently disrupting transportation between Juba and the states in Bahr el Ghazal, causing immense suffering for both passengers and drivers transporting goods.”
For his part, Lakes State Minister of Roads and Bridges Peter Machiek Aguek said he conducted an assessment of the flooded section of the road last week and noted that the main road is now submerged due to flooding from an unknown source.
“I promptly reported this to the governor, who contacted the ARC boss, Bol Mel. Directives were issued to the engineers and they are currently working on resolving the issue. The sections of the road affected by flooding are from Ameeth and Payii, totaling around 8 sections,” he explained. “The ARC, along with its sub-contractors, are actively working on resolving the issue and I anticipate that it will be fixed within the next two days.”
“The origin of this water causing the flooding remains unknown but I want to appeal to both passengers and drivers to be patient,” the minister added.
He said the road is passable and some travelers, including the state governor, recently used it.