TITLE:
Factors behind the Upsurge in Flooding in Abobo (Abidjan-Côte d’Ivoire)
AUTHORS:
Brou Kamenan Marcel
KEYWORDS:
Natural Hazards, Flooding, Inadequate Development, Illegal Occupation, Abobo
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection,
Vol.13 No.2,
February
19,
2025
ABSTRACT: For the past decade, the communes of Abidjan have been increasingly affected by natural hazards, causing considerable damage. One of the most dreaded of these is flooding, which haunts the population during the rainy seasons. The State of Côte d’Ivoire has shown its commitment to eradicating flooding by taking preventive measures (evacuation, cleaning out gutters, etc.) in the city, particularly in the areas most affected by the damage. Despite the efforts that have been made, the municipality of Abobo, which is located in a basin and on a steep slope with inadequate development, still suffers from flooding, with more than 15% of victims. The aim of this study is to elucidate the reasons that amplify this hazard. The study was made possible by field surveys involving observation and interviews, documentary research, and photographs taken using our GPS-enabled mobile phone based on a topographical map of the Abobo commune. In short, morpho-structural conditions and man-made factors, the consumption of space in all its forms by urbanisation, the fundamental role of rainfall and the occupation of pavements and drainage networks are the basic reasons for flooding in Abobo.