Woman killed taking shelter in church during storm

Jul 23, 2015

A woman was killed on Thursday afternoon when a church under construction where she was taking shelter collapsed during a storm

By Hudson Apunyo in Lira

 

A woman was killed on Thursday afternoon when a church under construction where she was taking shelter collapsed during a storm.

 

Several buildings were also destroyed and property worth millions of shillings lost in Lira Municipal Council.

 

Sarah Kia, 22, a mother of two, a resident of Adidikgweno village in Adekokwok Sub County outside Lira Town was traveling back home together with her husband Sam Ecel, 27, when the storm started and they decided to branch off at Truth Fountain West Church for shelter.

 

The church located at Central Park in Lira Central Division collapsed and debris of ring beams fell on the couple, killing Kia instantly.

 

Ecel was left disconsolate after losing his wife in the storm that damaged the church (below). Photo by Hudson Apunyo

A grief stricken Ecel was in tears besides the corpse of his wife covered in debris before police arrived at the scene and retrieved the body from the rubble. He survived unhurt while another person, Felix Ayo sustained a broken leg and was rushed to Lira Regional Referral Hospital for treatment.

 

The couple’s bicycle was retrieved from the wreckage by Police Fire Brigade and taken to Lira Central Police Station.

 

Regional Police spokesperson Manshur Suwed said it was a very unfortunate incident. He said police will investigate the engineer who was doing the construction as the materials used looked substandard.

 

Manshur wondered whether Lira Municipal Council authorities were aware of the construction taking place.

 

Several buildings and houses in Lira had their roofs blown off during the storm. Photo by Hudson Apunyo

Pastor Okello Olwa, one of the leaders of the church said the Town Clerk visited the site and stopped them from continuing with the construction. He said they were advised to reinforce the wall. Okello said they will stand with the bereaved family.

 

“We shall stand with the family as we wait for whatever decision the Municipal Council will come up. We regret the incident as it was not intended,” Okello said in a phone interview.

 

DL Okello a councilor of Ireda Shamba in Central Division said several houses were destroyed in Central Division and the whole of Lira Municipal Council. 

 

About 50 houses had their roofs blown off during the storm.

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