Freak storm damage church, house in St Elizabeth
Published:Monday | August 6, 2018 | 12:00 AM
The roofs of a church and a house in the farming community of Phantiland, St Elizabeth North Eastern were extensively damaged during a freak storm on Monday afternoon.
Strong winds accompanied by lightning sent several residents scampering for safety as zinc sheets from the house and church went flying.
One resident, Michael Williams said the freak storm reminded him of Hurricane Gilbert in September, 1988.
WATCH: Freak storm in St Elizabeth, church among damaged buildings pic.twitter.com/8zyohe0BAq
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Williams, otherwise called 'Tweety Bird', said he was outside doing gardening shortly after 1:00 p.m when the wind suddenly got stronger.
"When I looked up, I saw sheets of zinc sailing through the air and I just had to lay down because if I did not my head would cut off," Williams said.
He said immediately after the storm, residents assisted in gathering displaced zinc sheets and replaced them on the buildings.
This is the second freak storm in St Elizabeth North Eastern over the past four weeks.
In July, a house and a shop were damaged and a tree fell on a power line, disrupting electricity service.
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