Disaster struck at Umuejem Community, Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State, as a windstorm claimed the life of a middle-aged man and left three others critically injured.
Officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), led by the Acting Head of Imo-Abia Operations Office, Mr Chidi Ogundu, confirmed the casualty rate to newsmen in Owerri during the assessment of the disaster in the area.
He said: “We are conducting a joint assessment with other humanitarian agencies in Owerri to ascertain the level of damage caused by the windstorm disaster.”
According to him from the assessment, the windstorm wreaked havoc at Umuejem village in Obinze community causing a wide range of damage.
He said that residential buildings, churches, business premises and critical infrastructures were completely destroyed leaving a lot of people in agony.
Ogundu added that at the time of the assessment by the joint team, one life was lost and three persons sustained various degrees of injured and were receiving treatment.
According to him, the assessment further revealed that millions of naira worth of goods and properties were damaged.
He commiserated with the victims and promised to let relevant authorities know about the incident for possible restitution.