A Guyhoc Park, South Georgetown mother and her three children escaped yesterday with minor injuries after an electricity pole which was rotting at its stem broke and crashed on their home.
According to Natasha Rodrigues, she was standing at her gate talking with a neighbour around 7:30 last night when she saw the electrical wires over her head sparking. She said that within seconds the pole broke and crashed down on her single-flat home as her three children who were inside at the time ran outside.
“My three children run out and two of them jump over the verandah“, the frightened woman stated. She said that a small fire ignited at the back of her home and residents ran to her assistance as a bucket brigade sprang into action.
She said the back of her house was badly damaged while several pieces of furniture in a room at the rear of the house were damaged by the fallen pole.
Members of the Guyana Fire Service arrived on the scene within minutes of the incident but by then the residents had already put out the fire.
Rodrigues’ husband related that sometime last year, he observed the pole’s deteriorating condition and he subsequently made a report to the Guyana Power and Light. He said he reported the issue three times to officials but no one paid interest.
