Lightning strikes kill three in KwaZulu-Natal as mop-up operations begin

A third person has been confirmed dead following the inclement weather conditions that struck parts of KwaZulu-Natal over the past weekend.

A 66-year-old woman succumbed to her injuries in the hospital after being struck by lightning at her Springvale home, near Ixopo. Two other victims were killed by lightning over the weekend, bringing the weather-related death toll in the Harry Gwala region to three.

Mop-up operations are continuing in the affected Harry Gwala and uMgungundlovu districts. These two districts are the most severely impacted, with both public and private infrastructure suffering damage.

The Cooperative Governance Department has dispatched teams to collate figures while assessing the impact of the weather. Thus far, 126 homes have been destroyed, leaving 460 people homeless.

Department spokesperson Senzelwe Mzila stated, “Disaster management teams continue to work around the clock conducting assessments and providing interim relief to communities within the Harry Gwala and uMgungundlovu districts following this weekend’s heavy rains and inclement weather conditions.”

Meanwhile, local farmers have reported losses after their livestock was also killed by lightning.

RELATED: Level 5 warning: Severe Storms to hit KZN and Eastern Cape