Enugu residents heaved a sigh of relief on Friday as a one-hour heavy downpour, the first rain in the year, doused a long heat spell.

NAN  reports that aside from the resultant cooling the rain washed away thick dust that had settled on structures in the metropolis.

A resident, Mr. Sylvester Okafor, said the rain was of great relief as the “biting heat was becoming unbearable’’.

“God is so merciful and He has sent the rain to change the persistent hot weather that had prevailed in Enugu for over one month,’’ he said.

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A nursing mother, Mrs. Chioma Nnam, said since the harmattan spell ceased, her daughter had been sleeping fitfully because of heat and expressed confidence that the rain would change the scenario.

Another resident, Mr. John Okezie, told NAN that the downpour meant that he and his tailoring apprentices would sleep soundly and inside the house as opposed to sleeping on verandas.

“We thank God that the rain came at this time and days of mosquitoes feasting on us as we slept outside are over,’’ Okezie said.