Five people were killed and 13 injured as bolts of lightning streaked across the sky during a severe thunderstorm in Nkanya Village near Elliotdale late on Saturday.
Those killed and injured were among villagers attending a neighbour’s funeral when the storm came over. The weather outburst included a hailstorm.
Some of the villagers were struck while inside a rondavel, while others had been outside attempting to find shelter as they returned from the cemetery.
Eastern Cape weather forecaster Mandisa Manentsa-Titisi said severe thunderstorms occurred in the south-eastern parts of the province between Cathcart and Bizana, and between East London and Port St Johns.
Provincial health spokesman Siyanda Manana said the Elliotdale victims were rushed to hospital between 4pm and 5pm on Saturday.
Two of those injured were hospitalised at Madwaleni Hospital.
“We recorded four deaths on arrival – two elderly women two young women possibly in their late teens or early twenties.
“However, a family told us of another victim who had died at the scene and was not brought into the hospital.
“Another pair of women sustained serious injuries and have also been admitted to the Madwaleni Hospital where we are monitoring them. They are stable.”
Manana said among the casualties were two pregnant women who had suffered minor burns. The pregnancies remained unaffected.
“Six more adult women and three children also sustained various injuries, including minor burn wounds, but all were thankfully well under the circumstances.
“It is also worth noting that in many of the patients there were no evidence of burns at all and we are not sure if they were even struck or were simply close to where the lightning struck,” Manana said.
Police spokesman Major Zamukulungisa Jozana said police were notified about the incident late on Saturday afternoon and an inquest docket had been opened.
At least 100 people die each year from lightning strikes across the country, while those injured suffer severe burns, paralysis, and amnesia.
Six Transnet employees were killed while working on a railway line near Botshabelo in the Free State in March this year.
The eastern part of the Eastern Cape, home to many vulnerable and poor rural residents, is regularly affected by severe lightning strikes.
“Severe thunderstorms are violent weather phenomena that can be very dangerous.
“A thunderstorm can produce any combination of the following: heavy lightning, large hail, strong winds, heavy rain resulting in flash flooding, and in some cases, tornados,” Manentsa-Titisi said.
She advised anyone caught in a severe thunderstorm to seek shelter immediately – but not under a tree, under telephone or power lines, on hilltops, in isolated sheds, under unprotected gazebos or picnic shelters.
“If possible, stay indoors well clear of windows; shelter pets, cover vehicles and disconnect electrical appliances.
“Avoid being near metal objects,” she added. — mbalit@dispatch.co.za
Lightning kills 5, injures 13 as storms rage over E Cape
Those killed and injured were among villagers attending a neighbour’s funeral when the storm came over. The weather outburst included a hailstorm.
Some of the villagers were struck while inside a rondavel, while others had been outside attempting to find shelter as they returned from the cemetery.
Eastern Cape weather forecaster Mandisa Manentsa-Titisi said severe thunderstorms occurred in the south-eastern parts of the province between Cathcart and Bizana, and between East London and Port St Johns.
Provincial health spokesman Siyanda Manana said the Elliotdale victims were rushed to hospital between 4pm and 5pm on Saturday.
Two of those injured were hospitalised at Madwaleni Hospital.
“We recorded four deaths on arrival – two elderly women two young women possibly in their late teens or early twenties.
“However, a family told us of another victim who had died at the scene and was not brought into the hospital.
“Another pair of women sustained serious injuries and have also been admitted to the Madwaleni Hospital where we are monitoring them. They are stable.”
Manana said among the casualties were two pregnant women who had suffered minor burns. The pregnancies remained unaffected.
“Six more adult women and three children also sustained various injuries, including minor burn wounds, but all were thankfully well under the circumstances.
“It is also worth noting that in many of the patients there were no evidence of burns at all and we are not sure if they were even struck or were simply close to where the lightning struck,” Manana said.
Police spokesman Major Zamukulungisa Jozana said police were notified about the incident late on Saturday afternoon and an inquest docket had been opened.
At least 100 people die each year from lightning strikes across the country, while those injured suffer severe burns, paralysis, and amnesia.
Six Transnet employees were killed while working on a railway line near Botshabelo in the Free State in March this year.
The eastern part of the Eastern Cape, home to many vulnerable and poor rural residents, is regularly affected by severe lightning strikes.
“Severe thunderstorms are violent weather phenomena that can be very dangerous.
“A thunderstorm can produce any combination of the following: heavy lightning, large hail, strong winds, heavy rain resulting in flash flooding, and in some cases, tornados,” Manentsa-Titisi said.
She advised anyone caught in a severe thunderstorm to seek shelter immediately – but not under a tree, under telephone or power lines, on hilltops, in isolated sheds, under unprotected gazebos or picnic shelters.
“If possible, stay indoors well clear of windows; shelter pets, cover vehicles and disconnect electrical appliances.
“Avoid being near metal objects,” she added. — mbalit@dispatch.co.za
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