Kunfusi Bridge collapse cuts off 4,000 residents in Savannah Region
A bridge at Kunfusi in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District of the Savannah Region has collapsed for the second time, cutting off about 4,000 residents and disrupting access to healthcare, markets and other essential services.
The Kunfusi Bridge serves as a critical link between Kalba, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Tuna and several other communities in the district.
The latest collapse followed days of torrential rainfall, leaving motorists and pedestrians struggling to cross and severely disrupting movement in the area.
Residents say the situation has affected access to healthcare and other essential services, while farmers are also facing difficulties transporting their produce to market.
Some volunteers assisted motorists and pedestrians to navigate the damaged bridge.
They appealed to the relevant authorities to urgently intervene and restore access to the affected communities.
The Assembly Member for the Kunfusi Electoral Area also recounted the challenges residents are facing and called on stakeholders to take immediate steps to address the situation.
The Savannah Regional Minister, Salisu Bia Wurbe, accompanied by officials of the Savannah Regional Coordinating Council and the District Chief Executive for Sawla-Tuna-Kalba, visited the area to assess the extent of the damage.
Speaking to the media after the inspection, Mr Bia Wurbe said the collapse had disrupted access to healthcare and other essential services for a significant proportion of the district’s population.
He said efforts would be made to restore access to the affected communities while work continues to secure a new bridge.
The Regional Minister also urged residents to stop using the collapsed bridge because of the danger it poses and to use alternative routes where available.
Residents are now appealing for swift intervention to restore connectivity and ensure uninterrupted access to healthcare, markets and other essential services.
