A devastating rainstorm has claimed the lives of three people in Yala Local Government Area, Northern Cross River, after their mud houses collapsed during a fierce downpour.

The storm, which marked the first rainfall of the year, came with powerful winds and thunderstorms, toppling trees, cutting electricity lines, and leaving a trail of destruction.

Over 21 homes in the villages of Ezekwe, Okpodon, and Wanokom were reduced to rubble, with two women and one man tragically losing their lives when their houses caved in.

The Chairman of Yala Local Government, Dr. Fredrick Okem, described the incident as a severe setback, especially as the community had been working to rehabilitate roads and provide farmers with inputs for the planting season.

?For the past month, we have been fixing roads, drilling boreholes, and distributing farm inputs in preparation for the rains. Now, this disaster has struck, destroying homes and taking lives. It?s heartbreaking,? he lamented.

The Chairman lamented that with the cost of roofing materials skyrocketing, many affected families are left without shelter, sleeping in the open despite the risks.

He appealed for urgent intervention from the federal and state governments, as well as humanitarian organizations.

One of the victims, Ochim Ogar from Wanokom village, recounted his harrowing experience, revealing that his wife was crushed to death when their house collapsed.

?My wife and children ran inside when the rain started, but as the wind intensified, the walls gave way. She died instantly, while my children barely managed to escape,? he said, adding that he now faces the daunting task of raising their six children alone.

The community is pleading for urgent assistance to rebuild before heavier rains set in, fearing the outbreak of diseases and further hardship. (The Guardian)