…buildings flattened, roofs ripped off

AT least two homes were damaged and the roofs of several buildings were blown off during a freak storm which hit the town of Mahdia on Friday afternoon.

Town councillor, Harley Joseph, told the Guyana Chronicle that the roofs of the Mahdia Primary school and the police station at the Region Eight town were ripped off.
Reports are that around 15:30hrs on Friday, at least two houses were flattened during the storm. Joseph said he was told a tree fell on a building and flattened the structure at Constituency Two while another building owned by a man known as ‘Desmond ‘ fell down during the storm.

Director General of the Civil Defence Commission, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig, stated that the body is currently awaiting a report of a comprehensive assessment, which is being conducted by regional officials. He said an initial assessment recorded structural damages to several buildings while it was reported also that powerlines have sustained damage as well.

As a result of the strong winds, persons also sustained injuries, one of whom was evacuated to Georgetown for medical treatment. The CDC head said once the assessment is received, the needs of the affected area will be determined. Joseph reported that it is the first time he has experienced such weather conditions at the town.

He said that during the day on Friday sunny conditions persisted at Mahdia and according to him, late in the day the weather changed dramatically. He said the storm, which lasted less than an hour, caught many by surprise. A CDC team is on standby to be deployed to the town on Saturday.