Regional Minister Salisu Bia Wurbe Pledges Action as Kunfusi Bridge Collapse Strands 4,000 in Savannah Region

Approximately 4,000 residents in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District of the Savannah Region have been isolated following the collapse of the Kunfusi Bridge on October 4, 2026. Triggered by torrential rainfall, the infrastructure failure marks the second time the bridge has given way, severing a critical link between the communities of Kunfusi, Kalba, and Tuna. Beyond local travel, the bridge is a vital transit artery for international trade, facilitating the movement of goods and people toward Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire.

The collapse has created significant hardships for local inhabitants, particularly regarding access to essential services. Residents report being unable to reach healthcare facilities, while farmers are struggling to transport their produce to markets, threatening the economic stability of the district. In response to the crisis, local volunteers have begun assisting travelers in navigating the damaged crossing, though authorities have strongly cautioned the public to avoid the site and utilize alternative routes to ensure safety.

Savannah Regional Minister Salisu Bia Wurbe, alongside local officials, visited the site to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the damage. During the inspection, the Minister emphasized the gravity of the situation and the negative impact on the livelihoods of the affected communities. He announced that the government is initiating immediate reconnection efforts to restore temporary access, while simultaneously prioritizing the development of plans for a completely new and more resilient bridge structure to prevent a third occurrence of such a failure.

As the district awaits more permanent engineering solutions, the local Assembly Member has joined residents in calling for swift intervention to restore normalcy. The incident highlights ongoing infrastructure vulnerabilities in the Savannah Region during the rainy season. For now, the focus remains on ensuring that the thousands of cut-off residents can regain access to food, medical care, and trade routes as the government fast-tracks its response to this infrastructure emergency.