GAROWE,(insidesomalia.org)- The governor of a region under the authority of northern Somalia's Puntland State government has appealed for help after storms hit a small island off the country's eastern coast.

Yasin Said Hussein, the Puntland-appointed governor of Karkar region, told Radio Garowe during a Tuesday interview that heavy rains and strong winds that hit Hafun Island on October 20 caused considerable property damage.

"At least 22 fishing boats were destroyed with everything on board," the Governor told Radio Garowe.

He indicated that damages from the rains were limited to Hafun Island and did not hit surrounding islands.

Karkar Governor Hussein, from the regional capital Qardho on the mainland, urged local island people to avoid the coast.

He appealed to the government of Puntland and the international community to aid families who lost economic assets during the recent storms.

Source: Garowe Online