Heavy rains and powerful winds during the early hours of Wednesday 10th May 2017 left many people homeless and destroyed property in Freetown. The winds lifted zinc from roofs. The rain battered cars and streets.
Residents at Jalloh Terrace in the Eastern part of Freetown were seen carrying their household goods, clothes, electronics and other properties to a safer place, as their houses lay exposed and battered by the severe storm.
The roads were jammed with traffic from Portee Junction to Texaco as vehicles were only able to access the one lane leading towards Shell. The run-off and drainage from the downpour brought dirt and garbage cascading across Bai Bureh Road.
Coming towards Bomeh from Ferry Junction on Bai Bureh Road, a gigantic tree had blocked lanes and slowed all commuting traffic. Drivers were diverted to Black Hall Road to access Shell and other places.
The single, historic, cotton tree inside the Kissy Road Cemetery was uprooted and torn apart during the heavy downpour. Graves and grounds were damaged as the gigantic tree toppled over. Deep roots were uprooted damaging several nearby grave sights.
Along Free Street, within the central part of Freetown, the devastating downpour damaged houses and commercial buildings. Bricks, chunks of concrete and beams fell onto stationary cars parked on the streets.
Given the extent of the damage from the storm – howling winds and screaming rain – people are now concerned about what will happen in July when the rains are especially heavy.
By Alhaji M. Kamara
Awoko Thursday, May 11, 2017.
Ebola Recovery
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