KWAZULU-NATAL MEC for cooperative governance and traditional affairs, Nomusa Dube yesterday swiftly deployed disaster management teams to provide aid for victims of destructive thunderstorms.
The teams will work with the Ugu and uMsinga municipalities to provide relief to thousands of people left homeless.
Dube, pictured, said preliminary reports indicated that heavy rains left a trail of destruction in the KwaNzimakwe area in Ugu and uMsinga municipality on Saturday night.
She said the disaster management teams would distribute blankets, food, tents and other necessities.
"The assessment of the magnitude will begin as soon as all the victims have been provided with emergency support," she said.
Two districts in Umzinyathi in the north and Ugu on the South Coast are hardest hit by the latest storm that ravaged the province.
Heavy rains accompanied by strong winds lashed many parts of the two districts, leaving a trail of destruction on Saturday night.
Survivor Margaret Cele from KwaNzimakwe said she still could not believe she had escaped unscathed with her two grandchildren.
"The rain started about 7pm. While we huddled together with my grandchildren because of the lightning, I heard a strange sound and the roof of the house was gone," she said.
"Strong rain lashed us but we managed to get shelter in the nearby house."
Cele said they were still waiting for help from the municipality.
Meanwhile, the weather service had issued warnings of abnormal weather conditions across the entire province.
The province is still recovering from last year's ferocious storm that left thousands of people homeless and others dead.
Dube urged communities who might have been victims of the latest storms in various parts of the province to immediately contact their municipalities and the provincial disaster management centre so that they can also be assisted.
"Municipal disaster units have also been instructed to give a report to the provincial disaster management centre on the status of each municipality," Dube said.
"We would like to express our heartfelt sympathy to all the families who have become the latest victims of these ferocious storms."
RELIEF FOR SURVIVORS
KWAZULU-NATAL MEC for cooperative governance and traditional affairs, Nomusa Dube yesterday swiftly deployed disaster management teams to provide aid for victims of destructive thunderstorms.
The teams will work with the Ugu and uMsinga municipalities to provide relief to thousands of people left homeless.
Dube, pictured, said preliminary reports indicated that heavy rains left a trail of destruction in the KwaNzimakwe area in Ugu and uMsinga municipality on Saturday night.
She said the disaster management teams would distribute blankets, food, tents and other necessities.
"The assessment of the magnitude will begin as soon as all the victims have been provided with emergency support," she said.
Two districts in Umzinyathi in the north and Ugu on the South Coast are hardest hit by the latest storm that ravaged the province.
Heavy rains accompanied by strong winds lashed many parts of the two districts, leaving a trail of destruction on Saturday night.
Survivor Margaret Cele from KwaNzimakwe said she still could not believe she had escaped unscathed with her two grandchildren.
"The rain started about 7pm. While we huddled together with my grandchildren because of the lightning, I heard a strange sound and the roof of the house was gone," she said.
"Strong rain lashed us but we managed to get shelter in the nearby house."
Cele said they were still waiting for help from the municipality.
Meanwhile, the weather service had issued warnings of abnormal weather conditions across the entire province.
The province is still recovering from last year's ferocious storm that left thousands of people homeless and others dead.
Dube urged communities who might have been victims of the latest storms in various parts of the province to immediately contact their municipalities and the provincial disaster management centre so that they can also be assisted.
"Municipal disaster units have also been instructed to give a report to the provincial disaster management centre on the status of each municipality," Dube said.
"We would like to express our heartfelt sympathy to all the families who have become the latest victims of these ferocious storms."
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