Freak storm wreaks havoc on coastal Guyana

By Michelle Nurse On Jun 29, 2015

Downed power lines and transformer outside ‘Johnny P’ on Aubrey Barker Road, South Ruimveldt (Photo by Samuel Maughn via Guyana Chronicle) — Downed power lines and transformer outside ‘Johnny P’ on Aubrey Barker Road, South Ruimveldt **(Photo by Samuel Maughn via Guyana Chronicle)**

A FREAK storm gusting across the Atlantic yesterday hit coastal Demerara, causing extensive damage to residential and other properties in its path.Among communities most severely affected were North Ruimveldt and neighbouring Lamaha Springs in Greater Georgetown; La Parfaite Harmonie on the West Demerara; Linden in Region Ten; and villages along the East Bank Demerara.

At around 14:30 hrs, heavy rainfall accompanied by strong howling winds, hit the coastland. The speed and force of the winds ripped galvanized zinc sheets off buildings; threw down fences; downed several power lines and had electrical wires dancing dangerously on the ground and uprooted several billboards.

For several minutes, coconut trees were dancing to the force of the wind, until eventually one of them was broken in half. Meanwhile, other bearing fruit trees such as bananas were uprooted and the fruits had to be hastily retrieved.