At least one person has been reported dead and three others hospitalized as rainstorm wrecked havoc in Iyede Kingdom in Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State.
Our correspondent who visited the community reports that the rain which started at about 4pm on Saturday and lasted over two hours also left houses and properties worth millions of Naira destroyed.
The deceased, identified as Antilezer Akporobome, a 19-year-old male, was reported to be playing football with his friends, when they were struck by a lightning, and the victim died on the spot while three others are currently hospitalized.
Father to the deceased, Mr. Akporobome narrated: “I was at home yesterday when the weather suddenly changed, meanwhile my son and his friends were playing ball at an open space not too far from our home. The rain started and within a short period we heard the blast of a thunder.
“Almost everyone ran inside. It was later that we discovered that my son and his friends have been struck where they were playing. My son was mostly affected and was found dead while the others were still alive and were rushed to the hospital. He has been buried, no point keeping his body.”
Also speaking, a former President General of the Kingdom, Mr. Godwin Unuafe whose one storey building roof was blown off, appealed to the state government and well meaning individuals to come to the aid of the community.
Another victim, an elderly man of over 90 years old, Mr. John Olotu, said he narrowly escaped death after his building collapsed upon him, adding that it took the intervention of God through neighbours to save his life.
He said: “When the house collapsed upon me, many people thought I was already dead, until they came and discovered I was still alive and pulled me out. This is the only house I have and has been destroyed. I want to use this medium to call on government and well meaning individuals to please help me”.
