UPDATE: Fierce storm hits hard
Afternoon showers and thundershowers are expected on Friday
FIVE people came close to death during the violent electrical storm that hit Zululand on Tuesday night.
Public Relations Officer at the eNseleni Clinic, Vusi Khuzwayo, confirmed that the patients were admitted after being struck by lightning in separate incidents at Nzalabantu, KwaMbonambi.
‘The youngest was 11 and the eldest was 60,’ he said.
‘Fortunately none were in serious condition and after treatment they were able to return home.’
As people ran for cover and pets cowered, the night sky reverberated with flashes and angry thunder as the storm raged for about three hours.
A house in Nkandla and another in the Habeni area outside eShowe were burnt down after being struck by lightning bolts.
ALSO WATCH VIDEO HERE: WEATHER ALERT: Severe thunderstorms expected
The wind-driven storm also brought copious amounts of rain in the Upper Tugela region, with the river east of iSithebe running strongly, showing good inland downpours.
Residents in Empangeni and Richards Bay saw their rain gauges overflow, with as much as 85mm falling in the cloudburst.
Darnall farmer Gavon Calverley reported 60mm in the Mtonjaneni area and 50mm in the uMgungundlovu area outside Ulundi.
Power outages were also reported throughout the region with ZO readers posting a myriad of photos and videos of the impressive spectacle.
The South African Weather Services (SAWS) had issued a Special Weather Advisory for Tuesday and Wednesday and again for Saturday.
SAWS forecaster, Stacey Colborne provided the ZO with insight into this weekend’s probable weather conditions.
‘Afternoon showers and thundershowers are expected on Friday.
‘Saturday will most probably produce showers and thundershowers in the afternoon, with a possibility of severity.
‘The rain will most likely clear up on Sunday with afternoon showers towards evening,’ said Colborne.
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