Sixty-three persons rendered homeless by rainstorm

Suhum (E/R), Feb. 6, GNA - Sixty-three persons were rendered homeless and property estimated at more than 250 million cedis destroyed when a severe rainstorm hit Akorabo and its surrounding areas in the Suhum/Kraboa/Coaltar District of the Eastern Region on Wednesday. Three persons including an 80-year-old farmer, Opanin Okang Quaye, Prince Narh, 36, herbalist and Madam Mary Korno, 45-year-old trader whose houses were completely destroyed by the rainstorm and who also sustained various degrees of injuries were treated and discharged at the Suhum Government Hospital.

Mr Seth Youngson Tetteh, Assemblyman for the area, who briefed newsmen during an inspection of the affected areas, said the rain, which lasted for almost three hours also destroyed food crops mostly plantain and cassava.

He said most of the victims had left the town to stay with friends and relatives elsewhere, while others were putting up in the Chief's palace.

Mr Tetteh appealed to the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), the Suhum Kraboa Coaltar District Assembly and benevolent societies to come to the aid of the victims.

In another development, more than 100 people at the Dokrochiwa Market in the Suhum Kraboa Coaltar District escaped unhurt when some market stalls collapsed during a severe rainstorm at Dokrochiwa on Monday.

According to the Assemblyman, Mr Prince York Yeboah the rainstorm destroyed 63 out of the 80 stalls in the market. He said the rain also damaged a number of kiosks in the town. He appealed to the District Assembly to rehabilitate the market without delay.