Rainstorms kill 4, injure 20 in Cross River State

Four persons have been reported dead, while over 20 others sustained various degrees of injuries in windstorms that destroyed communities in Yala and Ogoja local government areas of Cross River State in Nigeria.


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 Report says, one of the vicitms was killed by lightening while the three others died when tree trunks and walls of residential buildings fell on them.

The injured are being treated in both orthodox and traditional hospitals but one with a fractured skull was referred to a specialist hospital in Enugu for surgery.

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According to Mr. Samuel Edom, a brother to one of the deceased, Mr. Ekam Ekpishoko, from Egoja-Ndim in Ogoja Local Government Area “The rain came down…in an unprecedented manner amidst windstorm that appeared ready to bring down the entire community. My brother was in his room with his family while I was in mine in the same building when suddenly I heard a loud sound of a tree falling and our home came crumbling.”

The storms which displaced about 20, 000 persons also affected many houses, churches, recreational centres, schools, hospitals and markets.

While assessing the disaster, the Chairman of Yala LGA, Mr. Gabe Ugor, appealed to the state and federal governments to assist the affected persons while the Director-General, Cross River State Emergency Management Agency, Mr. Vincent Aquah, described the destruction as monumental.
Culled:247nigerianewsupdate