Watch: Massive hail storm hits

Watch: Massive hail storm hits Kimberley on Easter weekend

Big storm in the Northern Cape welcomes the Easter weekend.

Watch: Massive hail storm hits

Hailstones, as big as golf balls, caused severe damage to several cars and houses in the city. The city received approximately 44mm rain in the two hours the storm raged.

“I have never in my life seen hail as big as that. I have lived in Kimberley for more than 20 years and never have I experienced such a big storm,” said Hester van der Merwe.

Watch: Massive hailstones in Kimberley

Another resident said it was quite frightening. Gladys van Zyl said she was home alone. “First it started raining and then all of a sudden, I heard a loud noise on my roof. That’s when I saw it started hailing. It just kept on going. I couldn’t open my front door, because the hail was piling up outside. I had to use a shovel to remove it.”

Windows shattered, cars damaged

The storm started at approximately 17:00 and it kept raining until late last night. Fanie de Bruin said seven of his windows were damaged in the storm. The back window of Bennie Minny’s car has been completely shattered and Marie Myburgh said her children’s car was damaged.

Debbie Anderson said the hail went right through her swimming pool cover and two windows in her house cracked. Ockie Fourie, another resident, said in several areas of the city houses were flooded, especially in the informal settlements.

One of the subways in the city completely filled up, almost touching the bridge.