Windstorm destroys 80 houses

No fewer than 80 houses have been destroyed by windstorm in two communities.

About 50 houses were destroyed in DadinKowa town of YamaltuDeba Local Government Area of Gombe State and another 30 houses in Emankpa Egbong and other communities in Ekajuk, Ogoja, Cross River State in a downpour that occurred with windstorm.

The heavy rain wreaked havoc in some parts of the town, destroying the tens of houses and injuring many people.

Although, no life was lost but affected residents were forced to seek refuge in neighbours’ houses.

An affected resident of Hawa-Hawaquarters, in Gombe State, Malam Yusuf Sani, said he was sleeping in his two-bedroom apartment when the room collapsed. “We were sleeping with my family when the building collapsed. I was able to evacuate them safely to our family house, but in the process I got a minor injury in my back,” he said.

Apart from residential buildings, electric poles that supplied the area with electricity were affected.

The Information Officer of Yamaltu Emirate Council, Adamu Muhammad Mijinyawa, said the Emirate had compiled the list of the houses that were destroyed by the windstorm for submission to the authorities at the local government headquarters in Deba.

In Cross River State, the windstorm blew off roofs of the houses and pulled down walls, displacing over 200 persons.

The storm which was accompanied by heavy rain, destroyed household properties and tree crops such as pears, mangoes, oranges, pawpaw and plantain.

The Director General of the Cross River State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Mr.John Inaku assured that the list of the victims would be forwarded to the Governor for intervention.