A sombre atmosphere hangs over Northern KwaZulu-Natal after two lives were lost and six individuals sustained injuries amid the aftermath of a severe storm that wreaked havoc on Monday night, 18 December 2023.
This comes after Disaster Management Teams, alongside government officials, conducted site inspections on Tuesday, 19 December 2023, to assess the damage caused by torrential downpours.
The Endumeni (Dundee) Municipality reported extensive destruction, including the ripping off of roofs from houses and damage to vital infrastructure such as power cables, roads, bridges, gravesites, and vehicles. Tragically, a 13-year-old boy lost his life due to a lightning strike on a farm just outside of Glencoe, with the Municipality currently withholding the young victim’s identity.
The aftermath further revealed damaged vehicles, with debris like trees, cables, fences, and electricity poles scattered across people’s yards. The Endumeni Municipality noted that the Sithembile Township just outside of Dundee bore the bulk of the brunt, with over 50% of the township identified as severely damaged.
Additionally, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (KZNCOGTA) explained the preliminary findings from the Provincial Disaster Management Centre, which indicated that the thunderstorm, which lasted approximately 45 minutes, swept through the Sithembile Township, claiming the life of an adult male who was struck by lightning and succumbed to his injuries. A further six people were injured as roofs and walls collapsed on them. Some victims were rushed to hospitals, while others received treatment in their homes.
Further insights from KZN COGTA outlined significant damage to infrastructure, including roads, fences, and bridges.
“Several businesses suffered losses including farmers who lost livestock and crops. Assessments indicate that about 173 households were damaged, affecting 1211 people. The teams are still on the ground conducting further assessments,” reported the government entity.
Bongiwe Sithole-Moloi, MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, has called on all disaster management centres in municipalities to continue assessments and provide assistance to those affected. She emphasised, “Our disaster response teams will continue to provide relief to the affected families. We are deeply concerned about the recurring devastating rains in our province, which is an alarming indication of the impact of global warming. Our department has been issuing weather warnings and recently launched a Multi-Agency Disaster Awareness campaign, collaborating with various stakeholders to raise awareness, mitigate risks, and respond effectively to disasters.”
Looking ahead, Sithole-Moloi highlighted that while some weather incidents are unavoidable, KZN residents are encouraged to heed warnings and relocate to safer areas when advised.
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