Soubré dam: water releases announced, Sassandra riverside residents urged to be careful

The operator of the Soubré hydroelectric dam has announced gradual water releases from this Tuesday, due to the high level of the reservoir after several weeks of heavy rain in the Sassandra basin. Residents living downstream are asked to move their pirogues, nets and livestock away from the banks.

The 275-megawatt dam is one of the country's main power-generating facilities. Water releases are a routine procedure in the rainy season, but they can quickly raise the river level in the fishing villages along its banks.

The prefecture has asked village chiefs to pass on the information, and awareness teams have been visiting fishing camps since Monday. Some fishermen regret being warned late, at a time of year that matters for their income, and are asking for a more precise schedule of releases.

What the creator verified on Monday: an awareness team visiting two fishing camps downstream of the dam. What remains to be confirmed: how long the releases will last and how high the water is expected to rise in riverside villages.