Storm displaces over 200 people

At least 14 families in the villages of Kuloro, Mandinaba, Tubakuta, Giboroh, Bonto, Pirang and Faraba, all in Kombo East, Western Region, have been hit by a powerful windstorm, which left at least 200 villagers displaced.

The storm struck in the wee hours of Saturday and lasted for about two hours, causing extensive damage to property. The violent storm battered many houses, leaving most of them roofless. Walls were cracked and a good number of trees collapsed in some of the villages. Even the newly built houses at Pirang Village were not spared. Billboards erected along the highways were also affected.

However, there is yet to be any report on a major casualty. But in Mandinaba Village, a young girl was said to have been hit by a mud-block, which fell from the walls of a house.

In a similar incident, the windstorm was said to have hit some families in the districts of Foni.

Meanwhile, some of those affected by the natural disaster were said to be sheltered by neighbours under difficult conditions, including overcrowding.

Our reporter, who was in Kuloro, Mandinaba and Tubakuta villages, observed that most of the houses that were hard-hit by the storm were built in areas sparsely surrounded by trees, which serve as breakers in such situations.

As we went to press last night, fresh reports of the windstorm flooded into the Daily Observer. In Wulli Barrow Kunda, Upper River Region, 10 families were rendered homeless by the storm, which was accompanied by a heavy downpour.

According to our sources, the affected families are currently sheltered at the Barrow Kunda Lower Basic School, as efforts intensified to re-build their homes.

Yaya Sumareh, a board chairman of Beakanyang Kafo, visited the affected families and appealed to the government, NGOs, philanthropists, and the general public to come to their aid.

For the victims of Kombo East, anyone who wishes to help can contact: Lamin M. Dibba of the Daily Observer on 992 5898; and for victims in Wuli, please contact Yaya Sumareh on 992 6285 or Nfamara Jawneh, the secretary-general of Beakanyang on 986 8882.