Guyana: Storm Affects Over 100 Buildings on Essequibo Coast; One Injury Reported

On Wednesday, a storm with winds exceeding 30 kilometers per hour affected more than 100 private and public buildings on the Essequibo Coast, leading to one reported injury and the temporary relocation of four individuals in Henrietta village, according to local authorities.

Images shared on President Irfaan Ali’s Facebook page depicted significant damage, including roofs being ripped off several structures. One resident described the storm’s impact, stating, “The storm started and then the rain and it lifted the whole zinc and everything and carried it up in that corner. Everything was damaged in the house; nothing was saved.”

The head of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), Nazrul Hussain (Ret’d Col), informed Demerara Waves Online News that a teacher at Riverstown Primary School sustained injuries due to a falling wall. Fortunately, no other injuries were reported at the school. The injured teacher is currently under medical observation as part of her recovery process, with precautionary tests being conducted to ensure her safety.

In addition, four elderly individuals were temporarily relocated to stay with relatives while repairs are made to their homes. Hussain noted that the Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) administration, along with the central government, is leading rehabilitation efforts, prioritizing the homes of those affected to facilitate their return as soon as possible.

Elsewhere in Guyana, reports indicated minimal damage to buildings outside the affected area. Among the structures impacted by the storm were a stadium currently under construction, which sustained minimal to moderate damage. An official from Region Two reported that ten roofs were damaged in Lima.

President Ali and junior public works minister Madanlall Ramraj were briefed by a Region Two official about the severe damage to both private and government properties along the coast. In response to the situation, the Guyana Defence Force’s Engineering Corps has been deployed to assist the CDC with roof replacements. Additionally, electricity services across the Essequibo Coast were disrupted but were restored after Guyana Power and Light crews worked to remove fallen poles, wires, and debris.

Source: demerarawaves.com