Bagre Dam Spillage Brought Forward at the Last Minute to August 25

• The opening of the Bagre Dam floodgates has been moved from August 27 to August 25, 2025, due to rapidly rising water levels.
• The National Disaster Management Organisation urged residents along the White Volta to evacuate to higher ground
• The government plans to assist affected communities, including farming tools, seedlings for dry-season farming

The annual opening of the floodgates of the Bagre Dam in Burkina Faso has been rescheduled from August 27 to August 25, 2025, due to rising water levels.

The National Disaster Management Organisation announced this change following an alert from SONABEL, the agency managing the dam.

Rebecca Assibi Akolgo, the National Disaster Management Organisation's regional director, stated that awareness efforts have been ongoing in collaboration with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the Ghana Water Resource Commission.

The primary concern centres on the impact of the spillage on communities along the White Volta, which may experience flooding of farmlands, submerged crops, reduced agricultural productivity, and food insecurity.

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Akolgo urged residents living along the White Volta to evacuate to higher ground for their safety during the spillage.

She emphasised that those who comply with evacuation advice are generally safer.

"Farmers who have not harvested yet and still insist on going to harvest their produce risk losing their lives while crossing the river, and they are likely to lose their crops because if the flood is excessive, it will wipe off all your farm produce."

According to the latest measurements, the water level at the Bagre Dam was recorded at 234.27 meters, an increase from 233.98 meters.

This constant rise has necessitated a change in the spillage schedule.

"This is an annual event, and we have taken preventive measures to educate residents and farmers along the White Volta."

She added that the government plans to support those severely affected by the spillage, including providing farming tools and seedlings for dry-season farming.

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Relief items such as rice, maize, mattresses, and roofing sheets will also be distributed to assist affected families.

Source: YEN.com.gh