Cape Town – A severe hailstorm in Bushbuckridge, Limpopo, resulted in the deaths of at least four people and injured over 40 others.
Tragic news from Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga, where severe storms have claimed four lives and left many injured, with patients currently receiving treatment at various hospitals. The storms have also wreaked havoc on the education sector, with 30 schools affected, and more damage… pic.twitter.com/j2In3CHI5K
— Limpopo Current Affairs (@BlaqSlav) October 28, 2024
The storm, which hit over the weekend, led the South African Weather Service (SAWS) to issue a yellow level 2 warning, predicting hail, damaging winds, and heavy rain in Limpopo and Mpumalanga.
The storm also damaged more than 30 schools, disrupting the National Senior Certificate Exams, though swift action by district officials allowed exams to proceed.
Heavy rain continued into Monday, damaging additional homes and cutting off power, with some roads becoming impassable in areas like Ximhungwe and Thulamahashe.
Deputy Minister of Basic Education Dr Reginah Mhaule, commended churches for offering their buildings for exams and advised residents to avoid crossing rivers and stay updated on weather reports.
“I would like to commend the swift action of the district officials, who averted a crisis on Monday by protecting the matric examinations which went on as planned, despite the damage,” The Citizen quoted Mhaule as saying.
An assessment of the storm damage is underway, though further rainfall may hinder progress.
Hundreds of families in several villages at Ga-Mphahlele in the Lepelle-Nkumpi Local Municipality are picking up the pieces after #heavystorms, accompanied by hail, wreaked havoc on Monday afternoon.
The strong winds left a trail of destruction when they swooped through several… pic.twitter.com/kzvv6cuBSh
— CapricornFM News (@CapricornFMNews) October 29, 2024
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
