At least 12 people are recuperating at a hospital in Magwi County, Eastern Equatoria State, after several houses collapsed on them during a rainstorm, local officials have said.
The incident took place at Obbo payam on Tuesday evening, with the majority of the victims said to be women and children.
“The heavy rainfall came and destroyed people’s properties and injured 12 people in my area. We managed to refer four survivors to Magwi town PHCC and the remaining seven are taking medications here in Obbo,” Ringo Filbert, Obbo head chief, told Singaita FM.
He said the buildings that could not stand the rainstorm include a primary school structure and about 30 houses in the area, rendering families homeless.
“We are appealing for help from the NGOs and humanitarian groups to help the victims without anything, especially non-food items,” Filbert added.
For his part, the chairperson for Obbo community in Magwi County emphasized on the need for well-wishers and aid groups to support the vulnerable people, whom she believes are about 200.
Rose Oling said: “We need help to rescue those who are suffering from lack of food and drugs in the primary health care center.”
She stated that some of the families unaffected by the rainstorm are helping the victims, but cautioned that the little foodstuffs they had are getting depleted.
Singaita FM’s efforts to get hold of the commissioner of Magwi County and the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission office for comments were not immediately successful.