Windstorm destroys 327 houses, economic trees in Cross River

No fewer than 327 houses have been destroyed by heavy windstorm in Nkarasi and Abinti communities in Ikom Local Government Area of Cross River.

Mr Godwin Tepikor, South – South Zonal Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Thursday led a team of officials from the agency to assess the damages.

Staff of the Cross River State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) were also on the assessment tour.

Youth leader of Nkarasi community, Mr Pius Ayum, conducted the team round the affected houses.

Ayum said that the windstorm occurred during the night of March 3 with a violent wind preceding a heavy rainfall.

Ayum said that the windstorm destroyed houses and economic trees in the affected areas.

According to him, the disaster has caused hardship on the victims and he called on NEMA, SEMA and other relevant agencies to come to their aid.

In Abinti community, the team was conducted round the area by a traditional ruler, Mr Akeng Nelson.

While conducting the team, Nelson said that most households had relocated from their ancestral homes due to the destruction that left most roofs leaking. (NAN)