QUAKE HOAX (FRONT PAGE)

Story: Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Takoradi

Majority of residents in the Western Region passed the night on the streets, parks and open spaces due to a rumor of an approaching earthquake that will sweep through the coastal areas of the country.

From the Shama, through the Twin-City of Sekondi/Takoradi, Axim, Nkroful and other communities along the coast could not sleep.

Residents converged at open places and parks to discuss the Haitians situation while other prayed to God from 2am till the announcement from the Regional Coordination Council that it was a rumor.

It was interesting at coastal communities where young people went into the houses of the old men and women and asked them to run to the beach and other open spaces.

The beaches of Shama, Abuesi, Sekondi, Axim and the coasts of Jomoro District were some of the place where residents had to wait until this morning.

In the metropolis, residents were crisscrossing each other in the darkness as the streetlights in the metropolis were also not working thereby compounding the fear of the people.

At about 1:30 am when this reporter had the first call enquiring the impending quake, the information had circulated and people kept calling their love ones to vacate their premises to avoid been trapped incase of any eventuality.

A drive through the metropolis at about 2:30am, women were seen carrying their babies firmly tied to their back standing on the street in readiness for the earthquake which never was.

At Sekondi, there was a very scaring scene as many people were on the street which was uncharacteristic of the people in the town.

The people believed and joined others on the street due to the rush and demeanor of those who were already on the street. Residents were left with no option than to join them.

Many laid their mats and long benches on the streets to pass the night while others sitting in from of their house with their children sleeping on their laptops.

According to one of the scared people at Aboadzi in the Shama District, Madam Juana “We have lock our doors and we passed the night at a park.”

She said even though there was information that everything was alright and people refused to go back to their rooms and sleep, they insisted on staying at the open place until the morning.

The situation became serious that, the Western Regional Police Commander, Alhaji Hamidu Mahama had to deplore the men from Rapid Deployment Force of the Ghana Police Service to patrol the streets to ensure that thieves did not capitalized on the fear of the people to rob them of their belongings.