Friday, February 27, 2009

Nigerian region devasted by wind storms

AllAfrica.com via Leadership (Abuja): Abi local government area, the home state of the governor of Cross River State, Senator Liyel Imoke, has suffered another natural disaster within three weeks. This time around, over 5,000 people are rendered homeless as against the 200 who were rendered homeless as a result of windstorm in the area. Over 680 houses have been destroyed by hailstones in Ekureku and its adjourning villages in Abi local government area of Cross River State. The hailstones which preceded a windstorm perforated all the corrugated roofing sheets of houses in the area rendering over 5,000 people homeless.

The people are now virtually exposed to indement weather as rain, sun, dust and reptiles as well as mosquitoes gain free access into their homes. Assessing the damage, the Director General, State Emergency Management Agency, Mr. Vincent Aquah, described the phenomenon as rare in the history of disaster in the state.

Mr. Aquah lamented that with the new development; the state has now increased its disaster portfolio to thirteen having experienced twelve others in the past. He sympathised with the victims of the disaster and assured them of governments prompt action to alleviate their suffering. The Abi council Chairman, Mr.Chucks Agube, described the level of destruction as colossal as every house top is affected causing panic among the people…

Locator map of Cross River state in Nigeria, drawn by/dessiné par Jaimz height-field, Wikimedia Commons, under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2

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