Locusts invade Guinea
2004-10-06 12:51
Conakry - Locusts said to be more dangerous than those which have eaten vast tracts of land across west Africa have swarmed through southern Guinea near the border with Liberia, Guinean radio said Wednesday.
According to a correspondent in the south of the country, swarms of locusts "completely destroyed in a few hours" several thousand hectares of forest land and rice paddies.
"If nothing is done, the forest region, which is Guinea's food pantry, could suffer a real catastrophe," the radio broadcast warned.
It described the locusts as "more dangerous that the variety that invaded Sahel desert countries this season", and quoted the regional agriculture department as saying three more districts - Nzerekore, Lola and Macenta - were threatened by the swarms.
- AFP