Over 1000 people displaced, houses destroyed in rainstorm

About 100 houses were destroyed in a rain storm in three communities on Saturday, May 7 in Savelugu Municipality in Northern Region.

About 1000 people were rendered homeless and now staying with relatives and friends. Seven people sustained various degrees of injuries including two people who had fractures on their legs and one had a fracture on the arms.

The injured were sent to hospital for medical treatment. The communities are Kanshegu, Nyoglo and Balshie. Affected buildings include the palace at Kanshegu chief, two school buildings, houses and private buildings.

Speaking to NADMO officer at the scene, the principal disaster control officer of the Municipality, Haruna Musah said they could not immediately assist the victims with any material saying that "we are handicapped and have virtually nothing in stock.

He said he would contact the Regional officer "to come to their assistance but we cannot do anything.

The headmaster of Kanshegu Arabic and English school, Sanyare Paul said the disaster will affect academic performances of the school pointing out that schools will resume for the third term next Tuesday.

He appealed to the Assembly, NGOs, NADMO to come to their assistance "as a matter of urgency to roof the school". He said the school will have to observe lessons under trees and caution teachers of the school not to take advantage of the problem to either stay at their homes or report late to school.

The rain storm started on Friday night and caused the havoc. One of the victims who had fracture on his thigh Abdulai Iddrisu told TV3 at Balshe that he used his " strength to prevent the collapse of my room in order to save my children but unfortunately the building collapsed on one of them and he also had a fracture on the leg".

Mr. Iddrisu said the rest of the families were safe "except that we lost our personal property and part of the house.”

AME Zion Primary at Nyoglo also had its building riff off. The Head teacher of the school, Alidu seidu lamented the school has no trees for pupils and teachers to use when school resumes next Tuesday and said he would consult the PTA for the necessary steps to be taken in the interim

Some of the victims were salvaging their property at the time TV3 got there.