By: Gabriel Parker
Tubmanburg – More than ten people have been left homeless after a massive mango tree collapsed onto a four-bedroom house in the Gbalasuah Community during the early hours of Friday morning.
The incident occurred around 1:00 a.m. and, fortunately, no injuries or fatalities were reported.
According to residents, the tree—estimated to be over twenty years old—had stood beside the house for decades. It unexpectedly toppled over during the night, crashing through the roof and causing significant structural damage.
Eyewitnesses recounted that the occupants were asleep at the time and were jolted awake by a loud crashing sound as the tree landed on the building.
The impact destroyed the entire roof, leaving the interior of the home exposed and forcing the residents to flee into the darkness.
Victims of the collapse believe that heavy rainfall on Thursday evening and into Friday morning contributed to the incident.
“We have been living here for years and never imagined something like this would happen,” said Bendu Cheeseman, one of the affected residents. “The rain was too heavy, and before we knew it, the tree was on top of our house.”
In the aftermath, displaced families have sought temporary shelter in the homes of neighbors. Many describe their current situation as challenging, citing a lack of privacy, overcrowding, and general discomfort.
The victims are now appealing to the National Disaster Management Agency of Liberia and humanitarian organizations for urgent assistance.
They say they have lost most of their belongings and lack the means to repair or rebuild the damaged home.
As the rainy season continues, residents in similarly vulnerable housing structures across the area are growing increasingly concerned about the risk of further disasters if preventive measures are not implemented.
