Roofs blown off at Engela Families were left homeless when a storm ripped off the roofs of seven homes at Engela in the Ohangwena Region on Wednesday afternoon.Dejected family members who have taken shelter in the old Engela church building told Namibian Sun that their belongings were damaged by the rain entering their houses.
Strong winds accompanied by heavy rain wreaked havoc at the village and roofing sheets and branches littered the ground when a news crew visited the village. Most affected by the disaster is 41-year-old Fernando Ferquissa, a businessman who has a wife and two children.
Ferquissa said he had spent more than N$16 000 to renovate the church house he moved into three years ago.
Ferquissa, who owns a printing business at Oshikango, said just before the storm he had stopped at home to drop off a photocopier that he had bought in Oshakati for N$10 000.
He said he had just left when his wife called to inform him about the disaster. When Ferquissa got home, he found the house and their furniture soaked by the rain.
He pointed to a mark on the wall, saying: “As you can see, this is where the water level was and I had to make a hole in the kitchen wall because if I did not do so, it would have damaged all of my property.
“I hope this printer works as it cost me a lot and it''s no secret that business in Oshikango has gone down.”
Counting his losses, Ferquissa said two beds were soaked, the ceiling was damaged, a television set, cupboards, sofas, important documents, business equipment and food worth more than N$40 000 were damaged.
The family has taken shelter in one of the containers belonging to the church.
Another resident, Nipu Lungameni, said when the strong winds started he managed to move his belongings a friend''s house.
Lungameni said when people affected by the storm sought help from other residents they were told to be strong and pray.
“We were told to pray but we do not pay our rent with prayers,” he said.
Lungameni said most of the damaged buildings are old and that is why the storm ripped off the roofs.
KENYA KAMBOWE