Freak storm destroys several houses in East Coast Berbice
A storm on Sunday morning destroyed eight houses and damaged many more at two villages on East Coast Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne).
Reports are that shortly before 02:00h, high winds followed by rain ripped off roofs and flattened thistles, while uprooting trees and causing millions of dollars in damages. One house was totally destroyed.
Alimoon Gobin said he was not at home when the storm came. “When I come home I looking for the house, but the house deh flat. Can’t do anything about it, it done happen.”
Several houses were severely damaged
When this publication arrived at Number 19 Village and Warren, there was no electricity in either village and residents had already begun the process of reconstructing. Many claim zinc sheets were missing. Parts of some roofs were found some 300 metres from their houses. Fallen trees blocked access to sections of some streets.
One shop owner, Jasoudra Bhoodu, related that she was awoken at around 01:00h by the sound of rain tapping on her roof. “And the whole house shaking and like it tumbling up with me inside.”
Residents picking up the pieces after the storm
She said none of the zinc sheets from her house were located.
Another resident, Neezam Khalim, said his entire roof, along with other parts of the house were blown away: “I start hearing noise, so I get up from out the bed and come into the hall and then all the ceiling in the house start to come down. When the ceiling start to come off then I look up and see that the roof gone. Ah build this shed lately and spend close to $400,000 to build it and I ain’t finding nothing from the shed; I ain’t know where they gone… it was rough. Everything damage in the house because the rain was falling. I just grab me and my daughter passport and one sponge and come downstairs in the kitchen whey it dry.”
During the devastating three minutes, electrical wires sparked, causing many residents to turn off their main switches.
Thankfully, there were no injuries.
