A family of seven is appealing to the public and the responsible authorities to provide them assistance after their home was wrecked by three huge rocks that crashed down on their hillside home at Kena Hill Settlement on Friday.
The parents, Gideon Keniherea and his wife Beverlyn Keniherea made a visit to the Solomon Star office to recount their ordeal.
They said the rock boulders came crashing over their home which almost claimed the life of Mrs Keniherea.
Mrs Keniherea said that her children were only lucky to be alive because all of them went to school that morning.
She said she was the only person in the house during that time doing household chores.
She said it was around mid-morning when she was cleaning inside the bedroom that she felt the house swayed after a loud crash as the first rock hit a section of the kitchen downstairs.
She said she was still in a state of shock, still remaining in the bedroom when the second rock rolled down the hillside and hit the same part of the building. It was immediately followed by the third rock.
The result of the impacts of the three rock boulders was such that the house was thrown off its posts and onto its side, with the entrance door of the house now facing up to the sky.
She said neighbours quickly turned up at the scene but were afraid to move into the house since the house was veering to its side and seemed likely to crash.
Beverly recalled she could not open the door since part of it got stuck on the floor.
She said a relative of her husband who lives nearby rescued her by kicking the door open and pulled her out of the building just before the house grounded.
Beverlyn said she remains traumatised after the incident and could not eat the whole day.
She said it was only fortunate that her children attended school that day because the exact spot where the rocks had landed was the usual spot where her children used to play.
The husband was in Auki on that day. He went there the day before. He immediately returned the next day, Saturday after he was being informed of the incident.
Mrs Keniherea said her husband was stunned upon seeing the damage to their home.
Gideon, who is from East Are’Are said the damaged home is their only shelter in town.
The incident has forced them to live with relatives while his kids attended school at Tuvaruhu.
Mr Keniherea said the damage to their home is extensive that would make it quite impossible for him to rebuild his family’s home after the disaster. Moreover, his wife is still traumatised by the event, he said.
The couple therefore, appealed for support from the public since they have become homeless after their home collapsed.
Those who are willing to assist Gideon and Beverlyn can be contacted on mobile phone 8749196.
By AATAI JOHN LAUNGI
