Killer storm rips through towns and villages
A VICIOUS storm killed one person, injured 80 others, ripped off roofs and knocked down walls in the towns and villages of the King Sabata Dalindyebo Municipality area on Monday.
People suffered lacerations and broken limbs as zinc sheets whipped through the air and house walls collapsed in 20 minutes of climatic fury that rendered hundreds of people homeless.
Zamikhaya Abenta, owner of 2010 Tavern in Old Payne, Mthatha, said 10 men who were in the tavern were trapped under the wall when it fell in the storm.
It took about 20 minutes to free the men but one of them, Dumane Bebe, 63, died at Mthatha General Hospital.
The storm smashed through a number of wards in Mthatha and Mqanduli, knocking down power lines and snapping and uprooting trees which were strewn across the N2 highway.
Five church halls and a number of schools were damaged.
Provincial health spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said 23 children were among the 70 people treated for fractured limbs and head and internal injuries.
“Some have now been admitted at Nelson Mandela Central Hospital. Some people are in a critical condition,” Kupelo said.
Cooperative government provincial spokesman Mamnkeli Ngam said that more than 20 villages were struck by the storm.
So far, damage and injuries were reported in Ward 16 in the Ngcengane area, Ward 30 in Payne, Ward 33 in Qweqwe and surrounding villages, Ward 32 at Maqhinebeni and surroundings.
Villages which also bore the brunt were Vidgiesville, KwaLindile, Mabheleni, Ngqarhi and Matyengqina, upper and lower Nqwarha, Luxolweni, Nxele, Mazizini, Thafeni, Ndlunkulu, Manzothweni, Bhavuma and Majwarheni.
Provincial emergency medical services (EMS), police and traffic officers and scores of volunteers worked around the clock to help the injured and to clear wreckage.
Severe storm damage was also recorded elsewhere in the province, including informal settlements in the Buffalo City Metro and surrounds.