3 Killed, Houses Destroyed Amid Heavy Downpour In Cross River

No fewer than three persons lost their lives in Yala local government area of Cross River State following a heavy rainfall that which led to destruction of their houses and leaving the victims dead.

Thunder storms during the rain also struck down houses, pulling down trees while some residents were buried in the mud on Tuesday at Ezekwe, Okpodon and Wanokom villages in the LGAs.

LEADERSHIP learnt that the casualties include two females and one male who lost their lives after their houses collapsed on them.

The torrential rain which was reportedly the first in the area since the beginning of this year was greeted with a fierce wind and thunder storm, which pulled down electricity poles, cables and blew off roof tops.

The Chairman for Yala local government area, Dr Fred Okem described the natural incident as pathetic.

He said the local government was making efforts to rehabilitate roads and assist the people with farm inputs for the farming season before the disaster.

“In the past one month, we have been rehabilitating roads, fixing water boreholes and distributing farm inputs to the people in expectation that when the rain falls, the farming period would kick off for them to plant their farms, only for houses to be destroyed by rainstorm,” he lamented.

Okem regretted that the costs of roofing sheets have gone beyond that reach of a common man, especially those affected by the rainstorms who were currently sleeping in the open space.

“Since the incident happened two days ago, those whose homes were destroyed are sleeping in the open with their children and the effects of such is well known,”‘ the chairman noted.

He called on the state and federal government and public-spirited individuals to assist the victims.

“We appeal to NEMA, SEMA, individuals and organisations to come to the aid of those affected, to enable them rebuild their homes before the rains get too heavy making it impossible to build again,” he appealed.