3 December 2007
A violent storm, possibly a tornado, ripped roofing off three buildings at
Cofimvaba Hospital in the Eastern Cape in the early hours of Monday morning, 3
December 2007, the provincial health department said. Hospital authorities said
no-one was injured. The storm, with strong winds and heavy rain, hit the
hospital soon after midnight, tearing asbestos roofing off the male, female and
paediatric wards.
About 70 patients from those wards were transferred to Mjanyana TB Hospital
by emergency services staff, who were on the scene. The department sent a team
from its hospital revitalisation project to assess the damage. The wards are
expected to be repaired as soon as possible. Hospital staff were busy mopping
water out of other wards flooded by the rain this morning.
Enquiries:
Sizwe Kupelo
Cell: 083 378 0196
Issued by: Department of Health, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
3 December 2007
Source: Eastern Cape Provincial Government (http://www.ecdoh.gov.za)
