Published: April 9, 2026
GBARNGA, Bong County — A heavy rainstorm caused widespread destruction in Bong County Tuesday evening, ripping roofs off public buildings, damaging schools and media institutions and leaving dozens of residents homeless.
The storm struck between 5:45 p.m. and 7 p.m., affecting several parts of the county, including the capital, Gbarnga.
Among the worst-hit structures was the Gbarnga Administrative Building, where the section housing the County Development Office lost its roof. Several development documents were destroyed.
Bong County Development Officer Sedikie Kromah told Radio Gbarnga the disaster has brought operations at his office to a standstill at a time when the county is preparing for its first County Council sitting of 2026.
“This is deeply unfortunate,” Kromah said.
The storm also severely damaged the head office of the Foundation for International Dignity, alongside two radio stations, Voice of Bong and Premium FM, whose transmission towers reportedly collapsed, disrupting broadcasts across the county.
Educational institutions were not spared. The storm damaged the Gbarnga Regional Hub, Nation Builder Academy Junior High School, Gbarnga Model High School and Dolokelen Gboveh High School, all of which sustained varying degrees of structural damage, raising fears of disruption to academic activities.
Dozens of families have been displaced and are staying with relatives in overcrowded homes, residents said. Some are calling for urgent humanitarian assistance, including support from the Red Cross, to help rebuild.
“We don’t even know what to do now because we don’t have the resources to rebuild our house,” said Emmanuel Flomo, one of the storm victims.
Rainstorms are common in Bong County, causing damage to property and infrastructure each year. Experts and local observers say poor construction standards, aging buildings, deforestation and environmental degradation are contributing to the scale of destruction.
The latest incident has renewed calls for stronger building regulations and improved environmental management to reduce future risks. Affected institutions and residents are left counting their losses, with fears that the recurring nature of such disasters could deepen humanitarian and economic challenges across the county.
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