Adams Electrical Shop victim of lightning strike
Two men are lucky to be alive and a businessman is grateful that his business was spared total destruction, following last Monday nightâs thunderstorm.{{more}}
While Pastor Stephen Adams was praying for the wellbeing of the nation, his business place Adams Electrical Ltd, located at the Kingstown Central Market, was on fire.
Sometime during the night, a fire was discovered at the unit that houses the store. An alarm was raised and the quick response of the Royal
St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force Fire Department prevented the business from being destroyed.
It is believed that the fire started after a suspected lightning strike may have sent a high voltage into the unit.
The sign advertising the business on the Grenville Street side of the market bore a gaping hole and burn marks which support that theory.
However, an official at the Electrical Inspectorate in the Ministry of Transport and Works who assessed the damage said that it was too soon to confirm the theory, since investigations are continuing.
The official used the opportunity to encourage consumers whose homes were inspected more than five years ago to apply for a re-inspection, and to take special care to ensure that their homes are grounded or earthed.
Adams, meanwhile, is happy that the situation was not worse.
The minister of the Grace and Truth church estimated that he lost about 40 per cent of his stock due to the fire and water damage.
He indicated that customers can still access his stock from his branches at Arnos Vale and Bequia.
Adams suggested that more buildings should be equipped with lightning arresters.
Also expressing his own thanks and praises for be alive is Joel Martin.
Martin, also known as âNattyâ, was in the company of his friend Frankie Browne in a small shop at Long Wall when a
boulder fell from about thirty feet above onto the structure, totally demolishing it.
The men were pulled from the debris by persons who heard the crash.
Browne was taken to the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital where he was treated for a head injury.
Martin, who lives next to where the structure stood, said that they were taking refuge from the thunder and lightning when the incident occurred.
The Rastafarian, who believes that he was protected by his faith, said he intends to rebuild a new shop, and is not worried about where he resides.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson from the Roads, Buildings and General Services Authority (BRAGSA) said that there were thirty reports of landslides around the island.
At press time Wednesday, the official said that more than half of these cases had already been cleared up.
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