A hail storm has blown off roofs of 10 houses at Maybin Flats in Ndola District on the Copperbelt Province, leaving residents’ property extensively damaged.
The media reports that the storm, which struck around 14:00 hours, also tore off roofs from several other houses in the area, leaving household goods soaked and a number of electrical appliances damaged.
The affected residents have appealed to the government for assistance as the hailstorm has left them stranded and exposed to harsh weather conditions.
Clement Mutelekwa, an affected resident at Maybin Flats, appealed for urgent shelter support.
“We need tents so that we can secure our rooftops and make the houses more bearable,” he said.
He added that most of the electrical appliances have been damaged and household goods like sofas and mattresses were completely soaked.
Another resident, Kondwani Sililo, who described how the hailstorm started, said his auntie’s car was damaged by pieces of asbestos roofing sheets that were ripped off by the strong winds, adding that it was a relief that no injuries were recorded.
“We are fortunate that there were no casualties, even though some houses had children inside when it happened,” he said.
Mr Sililo also appealed for support from the authorities, noting that most residents did not have access to emergency funds to deal with the sudden disaster.
Representatives from the District Administration and the office of the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit have inspected the premises, with the outcome of the visit yet to be established.
