Museum damaged by tree
A MUSEUM was damaged over the weekend when severe weather uprooted a tree which fell onto the building. Taking to its Facebook page, Talana Museum, outside Dundee in northern Kwazulu-natal, said that the mini tornado which blew through Dundee and Glencoe on Saturday uprooted trees all across the area.
“At Talana Museum it uprooted a huge gum tree by its roots, which fell across the roof of the First World War exhibit room, causing considerable damage. A huge hole in the roof caused great concern for the safety and care of the exhibits inside the building,” Talana Museum said.
“A portion of the ceiling collapsed. Portable display items were moved for protection but the great concern is the very heavy thunderstorms that are happening daily,” it said.
The museum said that water pouring into the building would destroy exhibits. It said that museum staff and their families cleared portions of the tree, allowing access to the hole in the roof so that it could be covered.
It said that another concern for the board of trustees was to find the money for repairs as fast as possible to protect all the years of research and the design of the display panels inside the building. Roof trusses and other roofing timbers have been snapped like twigs and corrugated iron has been twisted.
Meanwhile, the ethekwini Municipality said that its employees were busy revamping the Kwamuhle Museum.