At least 18 people have been confirmed dead in a "monstrous" storm that lashed South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal province at the weekend, the South African social development department said on Tuesday.
The department spokesman Lennox Mabaso said five people were struck by lightning, four were washed away in a car in Durban's Kwa-Mashu area, one was washed away in Inchanga. Another three were killed in Umzimkhulu, three in Richmond, one in Pietermaritzburg and another was found dead in Dalton.
South African social development department leader Meshack Radebe, who visited families in the Inchanga area on Monday, told media: "My heart is breaking for the people here. When I close my eyes, this nightmare comes back to me of fellow human beings dying and being struck by lightning."
He said the tragedy was enormous and "because of my job and the things I see, I sometimes have to be admitted into hospital for stress and depression".
A spokesman for the social development department, who did not want to be named, said residents were in shock.
In Pietermaritzburg, a man who had apparently been walking home during the downpour on Sunday night, accidentally fell into a manhole and was killed.
The freak storm wreaked havoc in the province and was described by residents and officials as one of the worst they had seen. Trees were uprooted, roofs caved in, walls and houses collapsed, and in some areas water mains had burst.
Premier Sbu Ndebele said around 2,000 people were affected by the disaster and that Ndwedwe, Dalton, Pietermaritzburg and now Inchanga were the worst affected areas.
In Inchanga alone, Radebe said, at least 1000 homes were destroyed. "People are sad here. They are walking around trying to pick up the pieces. We want them to know they are not alone. We as government are here with them to help them."
He said it was difficult for him to see people losing everything. "Those with homes they had for over 40 years watched it slip away as they lost everything, including identity documents."
The social development department would at the end of January re-issue pension cards and identity documents to those who had lost them during the storm.
Radebe was due to visit the KwaNyavu area of Camperdown, once he had completed his visit to Inchanga. He thanked social workers for their dedication and commitment.
"I'm very proud of my team who go out at any odd hour just to lend a helping hand. They have gone far beyond their call of duty and I thank them for their love and passion for the people."
Tents had been set up to accommodate the homeless and food parcels and clothing had been distributed.
Source:Xinhua
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