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ONCE AGAIN, hundreds of residents in Accra have been forced out of their houses, as floods wreak havoc in parts of the city. Thursday�s three-hour torrential downpour which started around 5 am, though recorded no death cases, prevented most people from going to work whilst others reported very late at their various workplaces, affecting the day�s activities. Although the flood level was not as high as it used to be in times past, some new settlements have been affected while the flood-prone areas have started suffering their usual after-rain ordeal. Some of the worst affected areas include Mallam, Weija, Santa Maria, Gbawe, Sakaman and Sowutuom. Other areas include Dansoman, Awoshie, Alajo, Asylum Down, Labaadi, Laterbiorkoshie, Chorkor, Kaneshie, South Industrial Area, Agbogbloshie and Abelemkpe and parts of Lapaz. Some residents tried to cry out for help as they relayed their problems to various radio stations. When DAILY GUIDE visited some of the affected areas, to ascertain the extent of damage by the rains, many houses had been flooded, with a lot of personal effects floating away. Most businesses were temporarily shut down, as the floods deposited huge volumes of silt and garbage at their frontages. Some residents were seen trying to bring out their water-drenched properties and personal effects to dry, even though the weather suggested there would be more rains. There were temporary chaotic traffic jams from the Darkuman Junction toward Odorkor, Kwashieman, and Mallam. DAILY GUIDE managed to contact some of the victims to find out why they could not find appropriate measures to prevent the floods, since that was not their first encounter. One of the victims, Kofi Adams, explained that there was little they could do as the streams and rivers within the metropolis overflowed their banks, as a result of chocked gutters, anytime it rained. �This leads to the flood waters gushing through houses and roads, causing havoc.� At Awoshie, one Alhaji Tanko noted that although they were aware of the floods, there was nothing they could do due to financial constraints. Another victim, Yaa Baapa said, �In fact, we do not know what to do as we have been living here for years and could not get enough funds to relocate.� She added: �In our own small way, we are trying to create some gutters in front of our houses so that we will get some relief.� The floods in Accra have been attributed by most residents to people building on water ways. Inadequately-sized culverts and blockage of the major drains by accumulated silt, caused by years of neglect and lack of maintenance, continue to be the fundamental problems, yet no one wants to take responsibility for these. According to some of the victims, the recent extensive road rehabilitation works had not only increased overspill but had also caused flooding and erosion in most parts of Accra. Daily Guide also established that most refuse were piled near streams by residents while other solid wastes were thrown into the streams. These posed serious health and environmental hazards to residents in such areas.