Bogue, Montego Bay, hit by freak storm

A section of Bogue in Montego Bay, St James, in the vicinity of the sewage plant, was hit by a freak storm, causing damage to some buildings, including the National Water Commission (NWC) office on Thursday. 

About 2:45 p.m., dark clouds covered the skies and strong winds forced people to run for cover, according to Vinnette Brown, a mango vendor. 

“I just hear a loud bang and when I look, breeze, rain and it blow off the tarpaulin off my stall. I had to rush in my van,” Brown stated. 

“Zinc and everything coming down. I was so frightened. Me and my husband we had to rush in the van and get some rescue. Heavy rain, traffic jam, it wasn't anything good,” she added. 

Brown told The Gleaner that she was thankful there was no loss of life.

“What don't cost life, don't cost anything. The mangoes are pretty and I am still here selling,” Brown said. 

A tour of the area revealed, that a section of the roof of the NWC office had caved in and water damaged offices on the top floor.

In other areas of Bogue tree limbs, fences and signs were torn down and littered the road. 

Workers from the St James Municipal Corporation were seen fixing signs that were damaged by the freak storm.

- Ashley Anguin

Follow The Gleaner on X and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com.