By Mokobia Rita.
ASABA/Nigeria: Residents of Asaba and its surrounding communities were thrown into panic on Friday evening as a violent rainstorm accompanied by powerful winds swept across major parts of the Delta State capital, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.
The downpour, which reportedly began at about 4:00 p.m., unleashed fierce winds that uprooted trees, brought down giant billboards, damaged property, and tore off rooftops across several locations, including Summit Road, Okpanam Road, Cable Point, Ezenei, and Ibusa Junction.
Eyewitnesses described the incident as one of the most devastating windstorms witnessed in recent years, with several giant advertising structures and political signboards collapsing under the force of the storm.
Mrs. Oluchi Umeh, who was driving from Summit Road towards Okpanam Road when the storm struck, recounted the frightening experience.
According to her, numerous large signboards lining the roads suddenly gave way as the winds intensified.
She disclosed that prominent structures, including a UBA billboard and an environmental awareness signboard along Okpanam Road, were among those brought down by the storm.
“The wind was so strong that almost every major signboard along Summit Road and Okpanam Road collapsed. It was a shocking sight to behold,” she said.
Mrs. Umeh expressed gratitude that the incident occurred when school is on mid-term break, noting that the situation could have resulted in casualties had pupils been returning home at the time.
“If this had happened while school children were on the roads, it could have been a disaster. We thank God that no lives were lost,” she stated.
Reflecting on previous weather-related incidents in the area, she recalled that during an earlier rainfall, several mango trees along Okpanam Road were uprooted. This time, however, the destruction extended to massive billboards and other structures.
She further revealed that another large signboard collapsed near Fidelity Bank on Okpanam Road, while one particularly massive billboard crashed into a car sales stand, damaging the front section of a vehicle on display.
According to her, a vulcanizer’s workshop within the vicinity was also affected when another billboard came crashing down.
Fortunately, the operator was reportedly absent when the incident occurred.
The heavy rainfall also caused significant flooding along sections of Okpanam Road, while parts of the roundabout axis experienced disruptions as drainage systems struggled to cope with the volume of water.
Reports from Ibusa Junction painted an equally grim picture, as residents claimed that several electric poles and advertising billboards were brought down by the storm, further highlighting the severity of the weather event.
At Cable Point, residents reportedly battled desperately to prevent their rooftops from being completely blown away. Witnesses described scenes of families standing in the rain while holding onto roofing sheets in a frantic effort to save their homes from further damage.
In the Ezenei area of Asaba, part of a large tree reportedly snapped and crashed to the ground, while two utility poles near Ezenei Junction also fell during the storm.
Another resident, Miss Amarachi Nwafor, said the destruction stretched from the Traffic Light area through several adjoining streets, with fallen trees and damaged rooftops becoming a common sight.
“This year’s rain has come with so much breeze. The wind was unlike anything we expected,” she remarked.
Residents have since called on the Delta State Government and relevant regulatory agencies to carry out integrity checks on billboards, signposts, and other elevated structures across the capital city, particularly as the rainy season intensifies.
Many fear that without urgent intervention, future storms could result in more severe property damage or even loss of lives.
While the storm left behind shattered structures, flooded roads, and countless stories of loss, it also left residents counting their blessings. As dawn breaks over the city and cleanup efforts begin, one fact remains undeniable: despite nature’s fierce display of power, no life was lost.
For many residents, that singular miracle stands as the greatest reason for gratitude amid the wreckage.
