Disaster management teams are assessing widespread damage after a severe storm accompanied by heavy rain and hail battered several villages in the Eastern Cape on Thursday, 5 November.
According to preliminary reports, several homes collapsed during the storm, which affected areas including Nomaheya Village and New Look in Ngqamakhwe.
The storm is believed to have affected more than 10 villages between Centane and Ngqamakhwe, with authorities continuing to receive reports of damage from additional communities.
Officials from the Amathole District Municipality and Mnquma Local Municipality were deployed to affected areas on Friday morning to assess the extent of the destruction and determine what assistance residents may require.
Mnquma Local Municipality spokesperson Loyiso Mpalantshane confirmed that the number of affected villages could increase as further reports are received.
Mpalantshane said preliminary estimates indicated that more than 10 villages had been affected by the severe weather.
Despite the damage to homes, no injuries or fatalities had been reported as of Friday morning.
Disaster management teams are continuing their assessments to establish the full extent of the damage and assist with relief efforts for affected residents.
Further information is expected as municipal officials complete their assessments.
Komani News
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