Several homes in Tobago were badly damaged yesterday due to high winds and torrential showers.
Bad weather hit the east of the island in what was described as a "freak storm" by villagers. The heavy rainfall started on Wednesday night and continued yesterday morning causing several roofs in a number of villages to be ripped off.
The T&T Guardian understands that villages such as Studley Park, Belle Garden, Argyle, Roxborough, Betsy's Hope, Delaford, Speyside, Charlotteville, Mason Hall and Moriah were affected.
The roadway at Windward Road in Argyle, near Pablo's Supermarket, was blocked with debris and fallen lines before it was cleared by fire officers.
T&TEC, TEMA and employees at the Division of Infrastructure and Public Utilities were deployed to assist with the situation.
In an interview with the T&T Guardian, Newton Pantin who lost his roof and incurred approximately $250,000 in damage, said the winds came without warning
"I went to work in Roxborough at the works office and while there the wind start so I tell the checker to peep out and watch through the cocoa to see how the immortelles swaying and going, because the winds just from nowhere.
"Next thing my phone ring. It was a girl who called, telling me my roof in the road. I asked if it was a little thing. She say no the whole big roof," Pantin said.
Owner of the Eco Sport Bar, Studley Park, Anslem Dinnoo, lost the entire roof of his establishment. He said while he was not at the location at the time, he was happy no one was injured
"Although the roof blow off, I'm just happy nobody got injured. Fire Service was very helpful. They gave us good assistance and we are thankful for that.
"We are still awaiting assistance from TEMA but we are trying to do what we could do in the meantime to get the building back together and in operation," Dinnoo said.
He was unable to give an estimate of his damage.
Senior meteorologist at the Crown Point Met Office, David Ghagadar, said the rainfall was not related to any storm activity but a strong low level trough, coupled with a down draft from thunder clouds.
MP for Tobago East Ayanna Webster-Roy and THA officials visited the affected persons and gave the assurance that relief would come.