KwaZulu-Natal weather: More than 300 homes destroyed in KZN storm
KwaZulu-Natal battered by storms once again
Speaking to Thuba Vilane at the scene, KZN COGTA MEC Sipho Hlomuka said residents are left picking up the pieces after the devastating storm:
“The report received in terms of the assessment done by by the disaster management team of the province working with the municipalities: It’s 304 households that have been affected. Out of the 304, more thjan 30 of those households are homeless”.
Hlomuka said reports indicate that “at 14:30 [on Tuesday 24 December], a sever thunderstorm swept through the uBuhlebezwe local municipality in the areas of KwaDladla, Mahhedle, and Ncakubana, and in the uMzimkhulu local municipality in the areas of KwaMeyi, Ibisi, kwaJames and Kroemhoek.”
Watch: MEC Hlomuka in Harry Gwala municipal district
Residents in the Harry Gwala District in KwaZulu-Natal are picking up the pieces after a devastating storm. @thubao spoke to KZN COGTA MEC Sipho Hlomuka. #floods #ChristmasDay #TheLead with @ermbates Courtesy #DStv403 pic.twitter.com/PKZ1Q6c8Ya
— eNCA (@eNCA) December 25, 2019
Hlomuka added that no injuries were reported, and confirmed that the province’s disaster management teams were on standby:
“We have also activated community development workers who are supporting our teams in the assessments.”
More storms predicted for KwaZulu-Natal
Residents are urged to be careful as the South African Weather Service (SAWS) issued additional alerts for storms across large parts of KwaZulu-Natal on Wednesday 25 December.
According to the SAWS, an alert valid from 17:00 to 22:00 on Wednesday 25 December warn of severe thunderstorms observed over parts of uGu, uMkhanyakude, iLembe and King Cetshwayo.
Warning:25/12/2019 17h00 TO:25/12/2019 22h00 Severe Thunderstorms- Observed over parts of uGu, uMkhanyakude, iLembe and King Cetshwayo (KZN) with hail, excessive lightning and strong winds.
— SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) December 25, 2019
Warning:25/12/2019 15h00 TO:25/12/2019 22h00 Severe Thunderstorms- Observed over parts of Harry Gwala, moving towards uMgungundlovu (KZN) with possible large amounts of small hail and damaging winds.
— SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) December 25, 2019
Warning:25/12/2019 15h00 TO:25/12/2019 23h00 Severe Thunderstorms- Observed over parts of Nqutu, Masinga, Mthonjaneni and Nkandla (KZN) with possible large amounts of hail and damaging winds.
— SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) December 25, 2019
The storms are coupled with “hail, excessive lightning and strong winds”. In addition, storms have also been observed over parts of Harry Gwala, “moving towards uMgungundlovu with possible large amounts of small hail and damaging winds”.
Lastly, an alert – valid from 15:00 to 23:00 – was issued for storms observed over parts of Nqutu, Masinga, Mthonjaneni and Nkandla with possible large amounts of hail and damaging winds”.
KwaZulu-Natal storm: Photos and videos
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Image via Twitter: @Makaziwe891 -
Image via Twitter: @Makaziwe891
Storm development timelapse from Hillcrest, KZN
— SA Weather🌩️sawx.co.za (@sawx_sa_weather) December 24, 2019
📽️ Jacques Potgieter@SAWeatherServic @StormWatchSA pic.twitter.com/wx8XjhIc7L
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