Hailstorm in Mpumalanga destroys houses, hospitals

There was a trail of destruction after the early morning storm. A violent hailstorm has wreaked havoc in Nkomazi, Mpumalanga. Houses, hospitals and other structures were severely damaged.

Authorities are on the scene assessing the damage and providing assistance to destitute residents.
The roof and ceiling of Shongwe Hospital was blown away and flooded with water. 
The maternity ward and pharmacy section were the worst affected. Patients were woken up by the freak storm.

"I was scared, the nurse has just started doing her rounds, there was a strong wind and rain, and it broke all the windows, we ran to another ward," says one the patients.

Patients have been evacuated and taken to other hospitals
Patients have been evacuated and taken to other hospitals. Disaster management is on site to assess the damage.

"There is a term contractor that has been brought on site now. We are going to categorise and isolate quick wings where we can quick fix those areas and the other wings the contractor will deal with," says Mpumalanga Health MEC, Gillion Mashego.

A stone thrown away from the hospital, Jameson Mathebula, is picking up the pieces. His home was destroyed during the storm.
"I don’t know where we are going to sleep tonight because all my belongings are damaged."

Miraculously, no casualties have been reported but electricity supply has been compromised. More rain is predicted for Sunday. Click below for more on the story: 


Bron: http://www.sabc.co.za/news/a/1afc03004e70ffe89e18de8c39fca03d/HailstormundefinedinundefinedMpumalangaundefineddestroysundefinedhouses,undefinedhospitals-20160110 

Mpumalanga storm kills one, leaves 100 homes destroyed

ne person died and four were injured during the heavy thunder storm experienced in Nkomazi Mpumalanga over the weekend. Fifteen-year-old Maxwell Mtshweni was electrocuted during the storm.

Local authorities say over 100 houses as well as two hospitals, two clinics and eight schools have been damaged.

The heavy thunder storm that swept through Nkomazi has added to troubles to the area which was already hard hit by drought.

Just a few months ago the drought caused the municipality to implement water restrictions as the main water sources, the Nkomazi and Crocodile rivers, had run dry. The municipality is currently assisting affected families after the heavy thunderstorm.

Local government is asking for assistance from the national government as the damage runs into millions of rand.  

Nkomazi Municipality spokesperson, Cyril Ripinga, says temporary shelter and relief aid to the affected communities have been provided.

“We are ensuring that people get temporary shelter. We are definitely on the ground now, trying to provide tents for those who have lost their houses and we are also giving them some blankets and food parcels, but we are still continuing because a number of villages have been affected.”

Authorities say food parcels, blankets and tents among other things will be provided to the affected families. The Health Department has appointed a contractor to repair the damaged hospitals and clinics.

Bron: http://www.sabc.co.za/news/a/f229de804e73887e8bb0df3de8e44b3d/Mpumalangaundefinedstormundefinedkillsundefinedone,undefinedleavesundefined100undefinedhomesundefineddestroyed-20160210 

Update: Man confirmed dead after storm wreaks havoc in Nkomazi 

KOMATIPOORT – A man has been confirmed dead following the thunder storm which swept through the southern part of Nkomazi last night.

Sources in provincial disaster management said the victim was believed to have been electrocuted by an illegal connection to his home during the storm.

Heavy rain, hail stones the size of golf balls and heavy winds caused severe damage last night.

The Department of Health* said the damage to Shongwe Hospital was estimated in the region of about R40 million.

“The heavy thunderstorm damaged the maternity and pediatric wards as well as the kitchen, theatre, linen storage room, palisade fencing and pharmacy,” spokesman Mr Dumisani Malamule said in a statement.

“In some of the areas, the roof was blown off, the ceiling was damaged and water was flowing on the ground on the affected areas.”

The department moved patients from the maternity ward to other wards.

The MEC for health in Mpumalanga, Mr Gillion Mashego visited the site today.

“We have already deployed various contractors who will start with repairs on the damaged areas.

“I am happy that no patients or any of our staff sustain injuries,” he said.

Naas, Dludluma and Mangweni clinics were also damaged.

According to the source in disaster management, an unknown number of people were injured elsewhere.

An estimated 500 people were affected, as well as hundreds of houses and schools.

Nkomazi Local Municipalit is working with the Department of Health and the Department of Co-operative Governance to assist the people affected.

* This article was edited at 16:04 to include the statement of the Department of Health.

Storm wreaks havoc in Nkomazi, October 1, 11:13

A cluster of storms moved over to the southern part of the Nkomazi area last night, leaving a trail of destruction.
According to South African Weather Service (SAWS) forecaster Mr Wayne Venter, a warning was given to Nkomazi municipality at 20:00.

“The thunderstorms hit approximately two hours later from the southern part of Komatipoort stretching down the border area towards Shongwe.”

Hail stones the size of golf balls and heavy winds caused severe damage.
Venter said the rainfall reported in the area was 26,8 millimeters.
In Mbombela it was one millimeter and Graskop four millimeters.
An official at Mpumalanga Disaster Management said that hospitals, farms, homes and vehicles were damaged in the area.
The roof of the maternity ward of Shongwe Hospital was ripped off and the electricity supply cut off.
Patients were transferred to Tonga Hospital.
Naas Clinic was also damaged during the storm and a church tent was swept away by the strong wind.
Ambulances had difficulty accessing patients.
The official said areas reportedly affected were Mangweni, Naas, Shongwe and the southern part of Komatipoort.
The roof of a shopping centre in Kamakakeza was also blown off.
The Mr Price Store’s air-conditioners were ripped from the walls.
Nkomazi Local Municipality spokesman Mr Cyril Ripinga said they were assessing the damage.
Securicon Lowveld officer Mr Vincent Beumer said their office in Komatipoort experienced hail damage. “I believe this has caused millions of rands worth of damage in the area,” he said.
Bron: http://lowvelder.co.za/356765/storm-wreaks-havoc-in-nkomazi/ 


  | Gewijzigd: 30 januari 2017, 13:20 uur, door Joyce.s