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- Around 70 houses were damaged in Msunduzi municipality after a hail storm.
- Disaster management teams have started clean-up operations in parts of KZN hit by the storm.
- Hail was recorded in Pietermaritzburg and more bad weather was expected in the province.
One person remains missing and two have died after a hailstorm that struck KwaZulu-Natal on Wednesday.
KZN’s MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), Sipho Hlomuka, said initial reports revealed that two people, one in Ulundi and the other in Umlazi, had died after being struck by lightning.
“A 22-year-old woman is still missing and is believed to have been swept away last night while trying to cross the local river in the Umlazi F section in eThekwini,” Hlomuka said.
READ | Child struck by lightning during KZN hail storm
At least 70 houses in Msunduzi municipality were damaged as a result of the hail, which, in some cases, was larger than golf balls.
A 10-year-old boy was rushed to hospital after being struck by lightning in Umuziwabantu Township.
Hlomuka urged residents to be on high alert, as weather reports indicated more storms were coming.
“The latest warning from the South African Weather Service indicates that heavy storms are expected to hit the northern parts of the province, namely Abaqulusi, Dannhauser, Dumbe, Madlangeni, Endumeni, Newcastle, Nongoma, Nquthu, Ulundi and Pongola.
“These weather conditions are expected to cause localized flooding, hail and lightning. Residents in areas that could be affected are urged to exercise caution,” he said.
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