Level 2 storm warning issued for KZN for Friday | The Witness

The South African Weather Services (Saws) has issued a yellow level 2 storm warning for KZN for Friday.

The weather office said that residents can expect scattered showers and thundershowers.

“Severe thunderstorms are expected over the western parts of the province on Friday which may be accompanied by large amounts of small hail, strong damaging winds, excessive lightning, and heavy downpours which may lead to localised impacts,” said Saws on Facebook.

The weather office said the storm may cause localised damage to infrastructure, settlements, vehicles and livestock, localised injuries and danger to life due to lightning, localised and short-term disruption to municipal and other essential services, as well as localised flooding of susceptible roads, low-lying areas and bridges.

This comes after the level 8 thunderstorms experienced across KwaZulu-Natal in recent days claimed 11 lives, including the life of a six-year-old boy who was struck by lightning on Sunday.

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According to uMlalazi Municipality spokesperson, Nonhlanhla Jele, the little boy had suffered a severe head injury after a lightning strike on the house they were staying in.

Jele said that 12 members of Banele’s family gathered in the rondavel house to mourn a senior member’s passing when the structure was struck by lightning, caught alight and collapsed.

Lwandle Pasi (22) from Darnal in KwaDukuza and Siyabonga Mavundla from Ohwebede area in Mandeni, also lost their lives during the heavy storms, drowning in separate incidents on Saturday, January 3.

Cogta dispatched disaster management teams to provide support to the affected families.

According to Cogta, this included providing essential resources, co-ordinating relief efforts, and assessing the extent of the damage.

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KZN Cogta MEC Thulasizwe Buthelezi visited ward 15 of the Nongoma Local Municipality on Wednesday morning to offer support to the family of the Umtwana wakwaFihlinqindi kaTselendoda kaDinuzulu, whose home was severely damaged by a structural fire.

The MEC provided essential supplies, including blankets, food parcels, plastic sheeting, and an emergency Box B.