The roof of Methodist Church Nigeria, All Saints Cathedral Umuawa Alaocha, Umuahia East Diocese in Umuahia North LGA of Abia State has collapsed during a strong wind that heralded an evening rain.
This is even as youths of the church who were holding an important meeting inside the Cathedral when the roof collapsed, miraculously escaped death.
Economic trees, electric poles and the roof of some residential buildings were also destroyed by the wind.
Conducting Journalists round the 800 seater capacity cathedral, the Bishop of the Umuahia East of Methodist Church, Rt Rev Best Okike said the incident happened without notice, adding that the youths of the church were holding their weekly meeting at the time of the incident.
“The tornado, I should call it had destroyed everything.
“The speed of the wind is terrible and people were inside here, holding a meeting, they managed to struggle out,” Bishop Okike said.
Narrating an eye witness account, Very Rev Bright Madu, Cathedral Administrator, who said he was with the youths during their meeting when the incident took place, explained that they saw the falling off before the sudden collapse of the iron roof.
“As the meeting was ongoing, suddenly, the ceiling started falling off so we became afraid. And before you know it, that heavy wind, the roof collapsed immediately. But God been so kind, we ran away from it. Though one of us sustained an injury but there was no death casualty.”