Windstorm kills one, displaces six communities

DEVASTATING windstorm, weekend, wrecked havoc in six communities in Boki Local Government Area of Cross River State, killing a JSS 3 student of Budda Comprehensive Secondary School, Janet Atsu, and pulling down houses, economic trees and electrical installations following a torrential downpour.
The storm which began at about 4 p.m, Saturday, swept away everything on its path. Over 350 houses including two  secondary school buildings had their roofs pulled off or the edifice completely  pulled down and displaced over 6,010 persons. A communication mast was damaged in the process.

Students of Adamawa State Polytechnic in Yola, packing their belongings following a heavy rainstorm that destroyed their hostels, Monday morning. PHOTO: NAN.

About 3,000 PHCN poles were knocked down, thereby disrupting public power supply to Ntamante, Okundi, Ishiagurube and Kakwagom Iruan  communities.
Narrating her ordeal, Mrs Janet Abang, Janet’s aunt, said the deceased, a girl of nine years and herself were returning from the farm located in the Boki forest when the storm started, pulling down trees which they escaped but unfortunately two trees that fell from both side of the path hit them.
Janet was said to have sustained several deep cuts on her head which led to her death.
She said: “We were along the path hurrying home when two trees fell simultaneously from both sides of the road on us. When I recovered  minutes later I noticed Janet lying sideways and when I turned her over I discovered two  deep  cuts  on her head. By the time rescue could reach us she had died.
Another  victim of the wind storm, Obi Balim Obi (45) said she and her family were in the house when  suddenly the roof of the house was lifted about 20 metres high before crashing into a nearby building  which had already been uncapped by the storm.
“We thank God that we all survived. It was like a movie” she said.