Tornado rips through New Hanover

South Africa

─── 06:43 Wed, 13 Nov 2019

Photo: ANA

Disaster management teams are in New Hanover (Thokozani and Mpolweni) in the Mshwathi Local Municipality, near Pietermaritzburg, where a tornado ripped through the area this afternoon injuring scores of people and damaging homes and infrastructure.

KZN MEC for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), Sipho Hlomuka, said initial reports indicated several people sustained injuries and were receiving medical attention at surrounding hospitals.

"A number of homes have collapsed, countless trees have been uprooted and the electricity supply in the area has been interrupted. Our teams are working hard to provide support to the affected communities,” Hlomuka said.

There are fears of possible missing people and that some may have died in the disaster.

Hlomuka has urged residents to be vigilant as the risk of heavy rains and severe thunderstorms continue to pose a serious danger to the province.

All councillors and volunteers have been activated to provide help to affected communities.

The department has made available a list of District Disaster Management Centres nearest to residents:

Ugu District - 039 682 2414

uMgungundlovu District - 033 343 1719

uThukela District - 086 010 4257

uMzinyathi District = 034 212 2222

Amajuba District - 034 329 7200

Zululand District - 035 870 1128/1130

uMkhanyakude District - 080 011 7770/035 573 1647

King Cetshwayo District - 086 100 3473/035 787 2698