Damage assessments under way following thunderstorms in KZN

The weather office issued warnings of heavy downpours, strong winds and hail for areas including Amajuba, uThukela, uMgungundlovu and the Harry Gwala District Municipality. 

Torrential rains flooded numerous roads leaving it waterlogged for hours. 

READ: ECR listeners share pics and videos of heavy rains, hailstones in KZN

WhatsApp chat groups and social media platforms were inundated with images of gardens and parking lots in Durban, including Phoenix, littered with hailstones, some of the size of R5 coins. 

Greenbury resident Irene Venkatas witnessed the storm. 

"The rains came down quite heavily, we ran to the windows and noticed there was a lot of hailstones. So, we took the cell phones out and actually recorded it."

"This time, it was more exciting just to see the hailstones, but there were concerns that it may affect certain people," she said. 

Venkatas says she welcomes the downpours.  

"We needed the rain, so it was welcomed. Hopeful it didn't cause too much of damage," she said. 

Mount Edgecombe resident, Lester Sivanath says he was pelted with hailstones while he was standing in his yard. 

He says the ground was blanketed with the icy stones, within seconds. 

"The hail came out of nowhere, we were just standing outside and the next minute it just started pouring. My van got hit quite badly," he said. 

Showers are expected to continue for the rest of KZN on Monday. 

KZN Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs spokesperson, Senzelwe Mzila is urging people across the province to remain cautious.

"This warning comes at a time when the province recently lost four lives in a lightning strike in Mkhuze in northern KZN."

"Disaster management teams are on standby in areas that are prone to flooding and they will be monitoring the situation," he said. 

Rescue Care spokesperson Garrith Jameison says paramedics were called out to multiple accidents. 

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