Severe storm kills five, leaves trail of destruction in Jalingo, Nigeria

A severe rainstorm and high winds hit Jalingo, the Taraba State capital in Nigeria on May 5, killing five people and injuring several others.

The Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee of Taraba Specialist Hospital, Jalingo, Dr. Dashe Dasogot, said that five bodies were brought in after the rainstorm.

"Four of the dead were from a GLO mast that fell opposite the gate of our hospital here and one other was brought from the town," he said, according to Sun News Online.

An eyewitness said that three among the four persons were near a telecommunication mast when it fell on them during the rainstorm.

The storm affected power and telecommunication systems in the city, due to collapsed masts and power lines.

Among the injured were a priest and seven undergraduates from Taraba State University. They were injured when a makeshift church building collapsed on them. Rev. Fr. John Jerome said the priest and students of the university were in the morning mass when the building collapsed.

"Rev. Fr. Pontianus, who sustained a head injury and one other student were treated at Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo and discharged, but the remaining six people are still receiving treatment at the same hospital," he said.

The storm damaged several properties in the town including private residences, offices, schools, police offices, mess and NYSC orientation camp, among other places.

Featured image credit: Taraba State Government