Thunderstorm claims 3 more lives in South Coast
The KZN South Coast has been left reeling after severe thunderstorms claimed the lives of 3 more people, this time in the uMzimkhulu Municipality.
The provincial government says 80 households were affected by the lightning strikes on Friday night. The latest tragedy comes a day after 4 people, including a child, were killed by lightning in the KwaMachi area near Harding on Thursday night.
3 other people were fatally hurt in a separate storm in the same area last weekend bringing the total death toll from lightning strikes on the South Coast to 10 in just 1 week.
The Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs is urging residents to erect lightning conductors to lessen the impact of severe storms. Spokesperson Mswakhe Mayisela says what makes the situation difficult is the fact that thunderstorms are a natural phenomenon.
"It is an act of nature and therefore it is very difficult for government to say who would be in a position to prevent these disasters except that we communicate aggressively with our people that they must be on the alert," he said.
"Also all of us know that during this time of the year our province is prone to disasters of this nature," Mayisela said.
(Photo: Gallo Images)