Garth Sampson from SAWS
Residents within the OR Tambo District Municipality in the Eastern Cape are now faced with the task of rebuilding after a violent storm wreaked havoc in various communities in the region, destroying hundreds of homes on Tuesday night.
The Executive Mayoral Spokesperson, Mntuwoxolo Ngudle said 40 people were hospitalised after sustaining injuries when their properties were blown away by the strong winds.
He says the affected areas are 18 municipal wards within the King Sabata Dalindyebo, Inquza Hill, Mhlontlo, Port St John's and the Nyandeni Local Municipalities.
Preliminary reports have established that the tornado accompanied by strong winds, a heavy downpour and lightning, left some schools, places of worship, livestock, homes and electricity infrastructure destroyed. The Mthatha Airport building was also affected.
Ngudle said the Municipality's Disaster Management teams are on-site to assess the extent and impact of the tornado and to lend a helping hand to the affected families.
The Executive Mayor, Thokozile Sokanyile also visited victims in hospital and is expected to also visit the affected villages.
A spokesperson for SA Weather Garth Sampson says the evidence available to them strongly suggests that it was an EF3-Tornado that occurred.
