A rainstorm struck Ukete Oduma community in Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State and destroyed at least 80 buildings.
The affected structures include homes, schools and churches.
Hundreds of residents now have nowhere to sleep after they lost property worth millions of naira, electricity poles, trees and livestock.
The traditional ruler of the community, Igwe Patrick Oshiekwe, said the incident caught everyone by surprise.
His palace has become a temporary shelter for many families whose houses now stand open to the elements.
Rain continues to fall and makes the situation worse each day.
“Everybody in the community is battered,” Igwe Oshiekwe told reporters.
“Since I was born I have never seen such a thing.
Within a short time, all the portable houses in our community were destroyed.
Many people have nowhere to lay their heads.”
He appealed directly to Governor Dr Peter Ndubisi Mbah, Senator Osita Ngwu and Chief Anayo Onwuegbu for help.
He also called on corporate organisations and individuals to step in while some building owners remain abroad and cannot return quickly.
The president general of the town union, Mr Jeremia Njoku, expressed the same concern.
He pointed out that the community still cannot trace the exact cause of the storm.
No one died in the incident, he noted, but the damage requires immediate action.
“You can see by yourself that over eighty buildings were affected,” Mr Njoku said.
“We are not talking about the ones that have minor damages. Our people need urgent help. We are living in fear.”
Other residents, including Mr Ernest Nweze and Chief Ifeanyichukwu Akuatuegwu, said they lost everything they had worked for over many years and joined the call for assistance.
As of the time of this report, no government officials or agencies have visited the community to assess the damage.
