O 311711Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY LOME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8685
INFO AMEMBASSY ACCRA 
AMEMBASSY BAMAKO 
AMEMBASSY COTONOU 
AMEMBASSY NIAMEY 
AMEMBASSY OUAGADOUGOU 
AMEMBASSY PARIS 
HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE

UNCLAS LOME 000394 
 
 
ACCRA FOR USAID AND DATT MOODY 
AID/W FOR OFDA 
DEPT FOR AF 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON ETDR EAID SENV TO
SUBJECT: OVERFLIGHT OF TOGO'S FLOODED AREAS CONFIRMS 
EXTENSIVE DAMAGE, BUT PERHAPS NOT CATASTROPHIC 
 
REF: A. LOME 391 
     ¶B. LOME 387 
 
¶1.  SUMMARY:  Post was able to conduct an overflight and 
drive by of Togo's flooded areas.  Water damage near Lome, 
north and east, is clearly visible as well as farther north 
towards Notse.  Washed out bridges, both road and rail, as 
well as serious flooding in crop fields, lived-in parcels and 
unused expanses of land are noticeable.  However, the 
flooding may be less catastrophic than originally thought. 
International teams have begun to arrive in Lome to assist 
with surveys of the situation and to lend assistance.  Post 
is still waiting for the GOT to provide us an official and 
detailed list of required needs. END SUMMARY 
 
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FLY-OVER: 
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¶2.  The Accra-based Department of Defense C-12 plane had a 
scheduled, and fortuitous stopover in Lome on July 31.  Post 
was offered the opportunity to fly over the flooded area. 
The flight took off from Lome airport, flew east towards 
Aneho (near the Benin border), then northwest following 
National Route 1 to Notse and returned to Lome.  The fly over 
lasted about an hour and gave us the opportunity to assess 
for ourselves the extent of the flooding. 
 
¶3.  EAST OF LOME: During the last 24-48 hours the outskirts 
of Lome, particularly to the north and east, have been 
affected by the flooding.  During the fly over we noted 
serious flooding outside Lome and again near Togoville/Lake 
Togo.   Vast expanses of land have been overtaken by water 
especially where the Zio and Haho rivers spill into Lake 
Togo.  While the flooding is impressive, it appears that this 
area is largely uninhabited though, with no large cities 
(other than Aneho), few villages and few crop fields. A major 
railroad bridge has been washed out in this area. 
 
¶4.  NORTH OF LOME:  To the North of Lome and until Tsevie (35 
kms north of Lome) the flooding has clearly affected 
inhabited areas and crop fields.  From the plane we could 
easily see housing compounds completely flooded.  We could 
also just make out the delineation of crop fields. (Note: 
Many of the crop fields are still under water so the top of 
corn stalks are barely visible. End Note.) 
 
¶5.  From the fly over it looks like the area just past Tsevie 
until 10 kilometers south of Notse has been largely spared by 
the flooding.  North of that area though, where the Haho 
river intersects with Route one, extensive damage is again 
visible.  The most noticeable damage is the washed out bridge 
on the Haho river. It appears the break at that point is 
about 100 feet wide. 
 
¶6.  Surprisingly the damage does not appear, from the air at 
least, to be as catastrophic as might have originally been 
thought.  While clearly there is extensive water damage, 
flooding, crop destruction and washed out bridges, we were 
surprised not to see more inhabitable areas overtaken by 
water.  While we saw flooded houses and villages, we did not 
see villages completely cut off by water.  (Note: We have 
been told that water is starting to recede in some areas End 
Note.) 
 
¶7.  Road traffic has been significantly impacted.  We saw 
only a few motorcycles on the main road.  The cargo trucks 
heading north have been forced to stop in pre-existing 
parking structures, and when those overflow, they then park 
on the side of the road.  They may be there from some time. 
 
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DRIVE BY: 
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¶8.  We also drove out on the main North-South highway to 
Togble Kope, some 20 kilometers north of Lome, where the 
first bridge washout is located.  There is a gap of perhaps 
ten feet where the Zio river broke through.  Already one can 
see that the water level has definitely dropped, although the 
current remains swift.  En route to that spot one passes a 
giant parking lot where heavily laden trucks bound for 
northern Togo, Burkina, Mali, and Niger are parked, virtually 
as far as the eye can see. 
 
 
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INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS: 
---------------------- 
 
¶9.  GHANA:  Togo's military chief General Nandja told us that 
Ghana had sent a helicopter (MI-17) to Lome on July 30 to 
survey damage.  While in Togo the helicopter's crew has 
rescued a group of children whose summer camp installations 
had been surrounded by water.  Nandja said the crew just 
pilled the small children (4-5 years old) into the helicopter 
and whisked them to safety. 
 
¶10.  FRANCE: Nandja also told us on July 30 that the French 
were sending two Puma helicopters from Cote d'Ivoire to Togo 
to assist with an initial damage survey.  The GOT has asked 
that the French focus on rebuilding the three washed out 
bridges on Togo's main north/south (National Route One.) 
(Note: Two bridges are 20 kilometers North of Lome and the 
third further north towards Notse. End Note.) 
 
¶11.  OTHERS: A German diplomat told us that they are adopting 
a wait and see position.  Until the GOT clearly spells out it 
needs, both in terms of technical assistance and humanitarian 
needs, then Germany will be on stand-by. China is taking the 
same position. 
 
¶12. COMMENT: Our overflight of Togo's flooded areas confirmed 
 that there is extensive damage to road infrastructures, 
bridges, crop fields and some villages. The situation, from 
the air at least, does not appear to be as catastrophic as we 
originally believed.  As the water starts to recede the main 
focal point will be rebuilding the washed out bridges quickly 
to restore road traffic.  The remaining bridges will need to 
be surveyed to determine if they are still fit for traffic. 
We will be requesting a briefing from the French tomorrow to 
see what they are planning to do and contribute.  Once the 
GOT sends us its official request for assistance, enumerating 
specific needs, then we can assess what participation and 
assistance the USG may want to consider. 
 
 
TWINING