Several vehicles have been stranded in Tonj South County for several days following flash floods around the bridge to Juba via Rumbek and Wau in Western Bahr el-Ghazal, Warrap State authorities said on Friday
Tonj South County Commissioner Marco Agor Malang told Radio Tamazuj that they had started repairing the most affected parts to let vehicles reach their destinations.
“Tonj South is good in term of security and what is mostly challenging is the flooding. It has affected the major economic lines, especially the highway to Juba and Western Bahr el-Ghazal State,” Malang said.
“The area before the Tonj Bridge is completely cut off, including the main road to Thiet to Tonj East County. I have just come from there with the team from ARC engineers,” he said.
Malang said the number of the stranded vehicles was huge on both sides of Rumbek and Wau, and urged the engineering team to immediately start the work.
“They have drained the water and put murram and culverts to allow passengers to continue to their destinations and we hope in the next few hours, vehicles will move to Juba and Wau,” he said on Friday.
Meanwhile, Warrap State Information and Communication Minister William Wol Mayom confirmed the flooding.
“The road connecting Lakes and Western Bahr el-Ghazal states are flooded by the overflowing Tonj River, making it difficult for vehicles to cross,” he said.
The Warrap State government directed ARC Company to work with the local authorities, especially the Commissioner for Tonj South, to renovate the most affected sections.