Families in the cold after heavy downpour hits Likoni

Residents of Consolota in Likoni, Mombasa County, stand next to a house whose roof was destroyed by heavy winds on July 31, 2014, following a heavy downpour. PHOTO | LABAN WALLOGA | NATION

What you need to know:

  • This followed the rains that have hit the region in the last three days.
  • At least 10 out of 12 houses have had have had their rooftops partly reaped off while the other two are the hardest hit.
  • The residents have pleaded with the government to support the victims of the disaster.

More than 12 families in the Consolata area in Likoni, Mombasa County, have been left in the cold after strong winds blew away their roofs Thursday morning.

This followed the rains that have hit the region in the past three days.

At least 10 out of 12 houses had their rooftops partly reaped off while the other two were the hardest hit.

“It was around 5am when I woke up to get ready for work.

"As I prepared myself, I noticed the lights were flickering and it was raining heavily. Then there was a loud blast and a blackout.

"After the rains subsided we saw electricity cables had fallen down and some rooftops in the neighbourhood had been blown off,” Mr Rashid Mwambesari, a resident said.

“There are more than eight residential houses which have been destroyed but we are informed that there are more in other parts,” he added.

FAMILIES EVACUATED

According to the Kenya Red Cross Society's Mombasa Branch Coordinator Rajab Mohammed, the families whose houses were severely damaged had been evacuated and the organisation was working with the county government’s Disaster Management Committee to help get iron sheets for the 10 houses.

“The ten houses have no damages following the early morning downpour, only two are affected.

"We have four people from the two damaged houses and there is also a risk of electrocution since there are electric cables lying dangerously on the ground,” Mr Mohamed said.

He said that following the downpour, they had contacted the Kenya Power Company who disconnected power in those areas.

LEANING POLES

“We have notified Kenya Power that there are leaning poles which pose a risk to the residents of the area and the Disaster Management Committee is following up on the restoration of the same,” he added.

Two children below the age of 10 years have also been referred to the Coast General Provincial Hospital for treatment after they were hit by falling debris during the 5am incident.

“We have two casualties who were in pain but none of them had visible open wounds. They only complained of pain after they were hit by falling blocks. They are stable and receiving treatment at the CPGH,” Mr Mohamed confirmed.

The residents have pleaded with the government to support the victims of the disaster, claiming that there were funds set aside for such disasters.

The area's, MP Masoud Mwahima, who is in Nairobi on official duties, told the Daily Nation that he had arranged with the Kenya Red Cross to help deal with the disaster and ensure that the affected families were assisted to settle.