Four persons were reported dead while over 20 others sustained various degrees of injuries in recent windstorm that ravaged 13 out of the 18 local government areas of Cross River state. Of the four, three of them died as the result of tree trunks and walls of residential buildings that felt on them and one died of lightening strike.The injured are being treated in both orthodox and traditional hospitals while one with the fractured skull was referred to a specialist hospital in Enugu for surgery. Samuel Edom, a brother to one of the deceased, Mr. Ekam Ekpishoko (60) in Egoja – Ndim in Ogoja Local Government Area narrated that when the ominous cloud of rain enveloped the community at about 5:00pm on the fateful day everybody hurried to their homes for safety.The rain came down few minutes later in an unprecedented manner amidst windstorm that seemed determined to bringing down the entire community. Edom narrated further; “my brother was in his room with his family while I was in mine in the same building engaging in discussion in loud voices against the sound of the storm and suddenly I heard a loud sound of a tree falling and our home came crumbling down”.A 22 feet tall historic tree which stood about 20 metres from the house was uprooted by the storm and in the process of its falling crushed other nearby smaller trees including palm, mangoes, and oranges bringing down alongside surrounding houses.He said that after the crash, he called out to his brother but only heard wailing from the family members and that when he managed to limp due to injuries he sustained to his brother’s apartment, he found him lying dead, having been crushed by a tree branch. Over 15,000 residential homes, churches, recreational centres, schools, hospitals and market were affected by the storms that swept across the state.Many of the houses were completely uncapped while some were reduced to rumbles. About 20,000 persons were displaced majority of whom were women and children. While some of the victims were accommodated by neighbours, majority were sheltering helplessly in makeshift huts and in very miserable conditions.In his remark, the Yala Local Government Council chairman, Hon. Gabe Ugor said the Council was overwhelmed by the destruction caused by the storm. He appealed for urgent attention from the State and Federal Governments to provide succour to the affected persons.
- RSOE Edis
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