Tornado destroys 74 houses in Mbangasina
Scores of houses have been destroyed and roofs of others ripped off by a tornado that has been recurrent in the towns of Mbangasina and Ntui in the Mbam and Kim Division of the centre region.
Families have been compelled to sleep in open air with their properties exposed to rainfall. Due to the strong winds, belongings, notably cloths are littered everywhere.
In Mbangasina, the municipal authority descended to the scene to evaluate the damage caused by the tornado. He noticed enormous destruction which left many people homeless and stranded.
“It has been an unfortunate moment lived by the population these past days. So far we have counted 74 houses affected with at least 358 people including parents and their children homeless, stranded and frustrated,” the Mayor of Mbangasina, Bernard Mboene noted.
The affected denizens are unsure of when they will rebuild their houses or have them back intact. This they say is due to lack of funds.
“I settled here with my family for years and we have been managing our lives here. With what the tornado has caused, I don’t know where I will start to regain shelter. I don’t have a franc.”
“We struggle to have two square meals per day. Now the winds have come and worsened the situation. Where will the money to rebuild come from? We’re penniless.”
“Regarding our financial situation, we beg government authorities to kindly help us in anyway. We really don’t know what do and where to go to,” some of the victims begged.
Recently, authorities of the World Wide Fund for nature (WWF) during the commemoration of earth hour, designated to reflect on ways to protect nature advised communities to discourage deforestation that remains highly harmful but rather engage in the planting of more trees which will always protect houses from the wrath of strong winds.
Read also: Ngatto: poaching, deforestation affecting livelihood
