DURBAN - Three children were killed in two separate weather-related incidents in the Harry Gwala District Municipality on Saturday.
KwaZulu-Natal Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Sipho Hlomuka said disaster management teams responded to weather-related incidents that occurred following severe thunderstorms that struck parts of the province on Saturday afternoon.
“In the first incident that took place in the Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma Local Municipality, a 10-year-old boy and a 15-year-old girl were swept away while trying to cross a local river in ward 12 in an area called Bethlehem,” Hlomuka said.
“In the second incident, heavy rains and strong winds led to a structural collapse of a house. In this incident, one fatality was reported and it’s believed to be that of a child.”
Hlomuka said local disaster management teams were dispatched to provide support to the affected families.
“We call upon residents to exercise extreme caution as the province continues to experience inclement weather conditions,” Hlomuka said.
“Residents that have been affected by the inclement weather conditions are urged to contact their respective leadership at ward level so that adequate support can be provided.”
Hlomuka added that disaster management teams were continuing with assessments of areas that were affected by the storm, and an update will be issued by the department.
Two weeks ago, a lightning strike killed a granny and two children and injured a child in Ofafa in the uBuhlebezwe Local Municipality.
Last week, Hlomuka visited the Mzobe family.
According to Hlomuka, the lightning strike took place in the afternoon while Sizakele Antonia Mzobe was in the family’s rondavel where she was with three of her grandchildren during the storm. A bolt of lightning then hit the house and killed Sizakele, 69, Asanda Mzobe, 12, Yolanda Mzobe, 9, and injured Esihle Mzobe, 13, who has since been discharged from the hospital.
Hlomuka also revealed that 26 people had been killed by lightning strikes in KZN between December and March.
Hlomuka said should residents find themselves caught in a thunderstorm, they were urged to:
- Seek shelter in a sturdy building.
- Never shelter under an isolated tree.
- Never use a cliff or rocky overhang for shelter.
- Immediately get out of and away from ponds, pools and other bodies of water.
Daily News