Photo: SAPS / Twitter
Photo: SAPS / Twitter
The extreme weather plaguing Durban and KZN this week took a turn for the devastating on Tuesday evening, when a tornado ripped through the province’s midlands area. New Hanover and Mpolweni were torn apart by the event, which has ended up claiming two lives in the process:
???? BREAKING: Paramedics confirm 2 killed and 20 injured in Mpolweni near New Hanover in KwaZulu-Natal after a tornado ripped through the area late on Tuesday!
— Gauteng Weather (@tWeatherSA) November 13, 2019
KZN: New Hanover tornado death toll stands at two
SAPS have also been quick to confirm the dreadful news. They revealed that their search and rescue missions carried on through the night, and amongst the 18 injured residents, there were two fatalities.
“Last night in Pietermaritzburg, SAR and the K9 Unit were called to assist New Hanover SAPS at the Mpolweni Mission area. A Tornado destroyed several houses and injured several residents. SAR conducted searches, found 18 residents who sustained injuries. Two persons were declared deceased.”
Durban weather for Wednesday 13 November
The tornado was spotted shortly after 17:00 as motorists filmed the force of nature tearing through a local sub-station. Eskom confirmed their Mpolweni unit was structurally damaged on Tuesday afternoon.
As New Hanover attempts to recover from KZN’s freak weather occurrences, Durban locals have begun battening down the hatches in preparation for the powerful storm which is due to lash the region with upwards of 100mm of rain on Thursday.
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued several warnings for the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, including heavy rain leading to flooding of roads and landslides. SAWS has warned that the displacement of communities as a result of the impending storm is a reality which will need to be accounted for by local government.
Damage caused by the New Hanover tornado in KZN
We're in Empolweni where the #KZNTornado hit yesterday. Residents say it was two tornadoes and their community is destroyed. They're now waiting for government officials incl. @kzngov Premier @sziks to assist them @Newzroom405 #NewzroomAfrika pic.twitter.com/hsgkloxS2R
— Karinda Jagmohan (@Karinda_J) November 13, 2019
Some pics of the damage so far in New Hanover near #Howick where it’s been confirmed that a #Tornado hit earlier today @ECR_Newswatch
— Nushera Raisa Soodyal (@nushera) November 12, 2019
Source:@kzncogta pic.twitter.com/jms2wziPN6
KZN Premier @sziks & a team of MECs are heading to #NewHanover this morning following the #KZNTornado. Prelim reports indicate there could be deaths & people still unaccounted for. Homes have collapsed. Trees have been uprooted. 3 people died in #KZN storms since Mon. @etvNewsSA pic.twitter.com/ThEb4aGysL
— Nabeelah Shaikh (@Nabeelah_Shaikh) November 13, 2019
