12-year-old girl killed, scores displaced as rainstorm wreaks havoc in Yendi
A 12-year-old girl has lost her life, several others have been injured and more than 40 houses destroyed after a powerful rainstorm battered parts of the Yendi Municipality in the Northern Region.
The rainstorm, which struck in the early hours of Wednesday, July 22, displaced dozens of families, many of whom are now taking refuge with relatives and friends after their homes were damaged or completely destroyed.
In addition to destroying homes, the storm also swept away household belongings, farm produce and other valuables, prompting affected residents to appeal to the government, benevolent individuals and charitable organisations for urgent assistance.
A visit by Channel One News to Meindogu, one of the hardest-hit communities in Yendi, revealed widespread destruction, with several buildings reduced to rubble and residents counting their losses.
The deceased, identified as Asana, was reportedly trapped when part of her family's house collapsed during the storm.
Her mother, Awabu Abukari, said the family had been asleep when strong winds tore off the roof before the walls of the house gave way.
"The rains started in the night. I was inside with the children. All of a sudden, the roof caved in, and the room fell. The wall fell on my little girl, Asana, and she died. I've lost my child. The whole day we've not eaten because we are grieving. Now we have no place to stay. We are appealing for support," she said.
Another resident, Abukari Abu, sustained neck injuries after the building collapsed while he was attempting to rescue his children.
"When the rain started, the storm took off the roof of our house. I was trying to rescue the children. Suddenly, the rooms collapsed and fell on me and the children. We have nowhere to live now. We are appealing for urgent support," he said.
The Assembly Member for the area described the destruction as devastating and called for immediate intervention to support the affected households.
Officials from the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), who visited the community to assess the damage, said the destruction was extensive and appealed to relatives and members of the public to provide temporary accommodation for displaced families while relief efforts are being organised.
Many of the affected residents have been left homeless and are struggling to recover after losing their homes, personal belongings and farm produce to the disaster.