Africa-Press – Lesotho. A woman whose home was hit by a falling rock in October at Tloutle village in Roma says her family now lives in constant fear, running outside at the slightest sound, worried that another rock could strike their house.
Mrs. Mahlompho Ntlhaba told the Agency that the experience has traumatised her family, especially her four children. She said they can no longer tell the difference between the sound of thunder and a rolling rock. Whenever they hear a similar noise, they rush outside and remain there until the cold or darkness forces them back indoors.
The incident happened on October 17 after heavy rains. Villagers said they heard a loud and frightening sound, followed by screams from the Ntlhaba household. When they arrived, they found a large rock had crashed through the main bedroom and landed in the kitchen.
No one was injured, as the family had fled the house immediately after hearing the rock rolling.
The four-bedroom house is home to six people, but since the incident the family has been forced to sleep in one room, including the parents.
Although repairs are currently underway, Ntlhaba said the family spends most of their time outside. They only go inside briefly, mainly to bathe in turns, while others remain outside to watch for any further danger.
She said she wants to relocate with her children but cannot afford to buy land or build a new house.
“I need all the help I can get to move out of this house. Living here has become torture for me and my family. I cannot continue living in fear, but I do not have the money to start again elsewhere,” she said.
Ntlhaba added that she is still waiting for assistance from the Disaster Management Authority (DMA), which had earlier promised to help.
DMA Public Relations Officer Ms. Mahlape Koali advised that the village chief should formally report the matter in writing, including details of the impact, to the Authority.
Experts say climate change is increasing the risk of rockfalls. Rising temperatures weaken natural structures that hold rocks and soil together, while heavier rainfall saturates the ground and destabilises slopes. Changes in temperature also cause frequent freezing and thawing, which widens cracks in rocks and makes them more likely to fall.
These conditions make both mountainous and lower-lying areas more vulnerable to sudden and dangerous rockfalls, especially during periods of heavy rain.
