Hundreds of people living in parts of Bushrod Island, just outside of Monrovia on yesterday were badly hit by flood created by an upsurge of water, which overflowed the banks of the St. Paul River; leaving residents strangulated in their homes as well as being deprived of tangible properties and personal belongings.

The St. Paul River overflowed its banks Sunday night due to the heavy downpour of rain. The ravaging waters besieged approximately ten communities on the Bushrod Island. Residents were seen trying to salvage what was left of most of the damaged domiciles; transporting their effects in canoes and makeshift rafts, while others were seen carrying their belongings on their heads in almost shoulder-deep water.

Major vicinities affected by flood include the St. Paul Bridge, Jamaica Road, Logan Town, Samuel K. Doe, Caldwell, New Georgia communities among others.

The situation compelled many residents to abandon their homes while others who apparently had nowhere to go, chose to remain in their water-engulfed homes despite the appalling situation.

The flood has affected the country's main water treatment plant, located in White Plains, outside Monrovia.

As a result of the damage caused by the marauding waters, which crippled the operation of the White Plains, the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation (LWSC), has suspended the supply of pipe-borne water to Monrovia and its suburbs.

A statement from the corporation issued yesterday carried it that the flood has gravely affected the corporation's main water plant and as such, the institution is left with no alternative but to shut down the supply of water to the city for the next 24 hours; as its team of technicians find a solution to the problem. The corporation however assured residents who are affected by the shut down of water supply that it would resume services to the hindered population shortly today.

Residents living in some of the affected communities told this paper yesterday that this is the first time that they have ever been affected by flood.

Sackor Counsellor, an elderly man who is a resident of the Jamaica Road Community, and is the head of a family of 32, described the situation as "grave."

"We are finding it difficult to do anything in our houses because the water has entered and destroyed nearly everything," he said.

Due to the gravity of the situation, the Liberian National Red Cross has quickly moved in to swiftly bring relief to the incapacitated localities so as to provide material and other essential assistance to the victims.

Daniel Clark, Secretary General of the Liberia National Red Cross (LNRC) told this paper yesterday that the organization has dispatched a team of relief workers to the affected communities to assess the situation and assist the victims.

"For now our focus is to relocate people (victims) and see what level of assistance we can render," he said.

Asked what assistance is the Red Cross thinking on providing for the victims, Clark, who described the situation as "serious," said, "Our concern is to provide first aid for the women and children population."

Liberia's Information Minister Lawrence Bropleh, who was contacted today for comment on the issue, said the GOL is very concerned about this natural disaster.

"Our primary goal now is to save life and property. Our immediate response to this situation is to relocate the victims and see if there is a possibility to carry out dredging of the affected areas," he said.

Additional actual causes of the overflow of the river's banks are not known, but some environmentalists and residents of the affected areas point directly to the massive illicit mining of sand and rocks for commercial purposes by some individuals.