KZN storm: Devastated Durban north communities pick up the pieces

Tornadoes were reported in Tongaat, La Mercy and Ballito, as well as near Utrecht. 

 

The Department of Cooperative Governance in KZN confirmed the deaths of five people. 

Schools and homes were damaged on the north coast. 

READ: KZN placed on weather alert again

 

At Seatides Combined School, the tornado tore off roofs and destroyed classrooms. 

 

"The school is completely destroyed, and there are 900 kids. You can't just move them anywhere. You have to set up something temporary. We have never seen this before," says governing body member Puven Naidoo.

 

One man from Sahiti Estate was at home with his wife and child when the tornado struck.

 

"It got very dark within a split second. The house started shaking, and I grabbed them, and we ran for shelter. It lasted for about 30 seconds to a minute."

Almost all the homes in Sahiti were destroyed. 

ALSO READ: Storm-affected Tongaat residents relocated to community halls

 

Adrian Naicker from Causrina in Westbrooke says he got a shock when the sky suddenly went dark:

 

"I was watching TV, and when I went to the window, everything was weird; the glass was flying in the air. We have a gym set that flew." 

 

He says they had to run for cover.

 

"We tried to get out, and everything was bad. Windows were busting while we were in the house. I ran to try and get the children because there were about four to five of them."

This woman says her sister and her niece were badly injured when their house in Sandfield in Tongaat crumpled on top of them. #Tornado #KZNTornado pic.twitter.com/ff67bjz0Sw

— ECR_Newswatch (@ECR_Newswatch) June 4, 2024

PICS: Devastation in Sanfields, Tongaat. #tornado #kzntornado pic.twitter.com/2rXJ2TtBxg

— ECR_Newswatch (@ECR_Newswatch) June 4, 2024