NAMENTENGA – The High Commissioner of Namentenga Province, Adama Conseiga, highlighted severe structural failures at the Boulsa dam during a visit with local administrative and security officials on July 20, 2024. The visit aimed to assess the extensive damage and coordinate emergency responses to the deteriorating dam, which is a critical part of the local infrastructure.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the visit was a necessary step to understand the scope of the degradation first-hand. The High Commissioner, accompanied by provincial directors responsible for Infrastructure, Social Action, the first vice-president of the special delegation, and defense and security forces, inspected the dam located on the Boulsa-Kaya axis of national road no. 15. "The level of degradation of the hydraulic structure write-off is alarming, necessitating immediate intervention," stated Conseiga during the visit.

The inspection revealed that two slabs of the dam's structure had collapsed, with the remaining slabs on the brink of total collapse. The underlying earth, critical for support, has also eroded away, severely hindering the movement of heavy vehicles and posing significant safety risks. The proximity of the dam to key local infrastructure, approximately 250 meters from the large Boulsa market, amplifies the potential for widespread impact.

Recognizing the urgency of the situation, the High Commissioner urged the local community to exercise increased caution in the area and called for a collective effort to mitigate further damage. "I invite the population to come out massively tomorrow, Sunday, to fill the empty areas with earth," Conseiga announced, emphasizing the need for immediate local action to address the hazards posed by the crumbling dam.