Tropical rainstorm destroys homes in Liberian city

By:  March 28, 2007

Monrovia, Liberia, 03/28 - Hundreds of homes have been destroyed by a heavy tropical rainstorm that hit the Liberian city of Ganta, near the border with Guinea on Monday night.

Reports received by PANA from the area Tuesday said some two hundred houses have been destroyed and a number of persons injured when heavy rainstorm blew off the roofs from homes, schools and business centres in one of the biggest commercial towns in rural Liberia.

Injuries were sustained from flying zinc and other wreckage, eyewitnesses told PANA.

Local radio stations here Tuesday quoted the victims of the disaster as appealing for help from the Liberian government, local and international Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs).

One of the victims, the local Police Commander in Ganta, Major Sam Lloyd, whose roof was blown off, said he lost all his household Properties in the storm.

The Ganta city Mayor, Nohn Tennsonon told a radio reporter that two children died in the disaster, but this has not been independently confirmed.

Authorities here put the cost of the damage at more than US$250,000.

Meanwhile, the Liberian Cabinet has sent a Disaster Relief Committee on an assessment mission to the affected area and other parts of the country prone to natural disasters, a statement from the presidency said Tuesday.

The Committee is headed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Other members include the Ministries of Finance, Planning and Economic Affairs, Education, Health and Social Welfare, Information and the General Services Agency.