Storms wreak havoc in the areas of Bergville and uPhongolo in KwaZulu-Natal
Storms wreak havoc in the areas of Bergville and uPhongolo in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN):
- One person killed by lightening
- Hospital and Houses blown away
- 18 injuries and many houses blown away
Scores of people in the province of KwaZulu-Natal have been left homeless after violent storms, accompanied by torrential downpours, cut a swath of destruction in some parts of the province around 5pm today, Monday 17 March 2014.
According to preliminary reports, the Midlands and Northern KwaZulu-Natal towns of Bergville (ward2) and uPhongolo were the most pounded by the storms. KZN Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC, Nomusa Dube-Ncube has despatched a team of disaster management personnel to assist the victims.
In the area of Ukhahlamba (Bergville) the storm devastated the local Emmaus Hospital and patients had to be transferred to other nearby health facilities in Estcourt and Ladysmith. It is believe that scores of houses were also damaged.
“Our disaster management teams are already on site in Bergville and we have already visited the family of a lighting victim in the area of uPhongola with the Premier of the province, Mr Senzo Mchunu and other MEC’s. Our teams are providing first line support and assisting a number of injured people. We will be assessing damage and providing material assistance to the community.
“Our thoughts are with the affected families who have lost their valuable possessions or their loved ones particularly in Uphongolo. As a caring government, we are determined to offer whatever assistance is needed on the ground in these communities,” said Dube-Ncube.
A Joint Operations Committee made of the Provincial Governments and the affected Municipalities has been established to provide emergency assistance. It is expected that high powered delegation of MEC’s responsible for disaster management in the province will visit the area of Bergville tomorrow to lead the efforts of conducting detailed assessment of the damage.
For more information contact:
Lennox Mabaso
Spokesperson
Cell: 082 884 2403
