By Emma Una
Three persons were reportedly buried when their mud houses collapsed during a torrential downpour in Yala Local Government Area of Northern Cross River.
The downpour, which was the first rain of the year, was driven by fierce wind and thunderstorms that uprooted trees, cut electricity cables and pulled down houses in the area.
Over twenty houses in the villages of Ezekwe, Okpodon and Wanokom were destroyed by the storm and three persons, two females and one male, died when their houses fell on them.
The Chairman of Yala Local Government Area, Dr. Fred Okem, told Vanguard that the disaster was traumatizing, considering that the local government was trying to rehabilitate roads and assist the people with farm inputs for the farming season, only for the disaster to occur.
“In the past month, we have been rehabilitating roads, fixing water boreholes and distributing farm inputs to the people in expectation that when the rain falls, the farming period will kick off for them to plant their farms only for houses to be destroyed by a rain storm and some persons killed which is a big set back.”
Dr Okem said the costs of roofing sheets have gone through the roof, and people cannot afford them. Many of those affected by the storm are currently sleeping in the open.
“Since the incident happened two days ago, those whose homes were destroyed are sleeping in the open with their children, and the effect of such is well known.”
The Chairman appealed for help from the federal, state government and non-governmental organisations to enable the people to rebuild their homes before diseases set in the camps and led to more deaths.
“We appeal to NEMA, SEMA, individuals and organizations to come to the aid of those affected and enable them to rebuild their homes before the rains get too heavy, making it impossible to build again.”
One of those affected, Ochim Ogar in Wanokom village, said his wife was a victim of the disaster when their home fell on her, leading to her death.
“My wife and the children ran inside our house when the rain started, but at a point, the wind became very strong, and the walls of our house fell, and she died on the spot while my children managed to escape.”
He said the wife left behind six children, and unless help comes his way, it would be difficult to care for them.
The post Rainstorm wreaks havoc in Cross River, 3 dead as houses crumble appeared first on Vanguard News.
