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KZN Thunderstorms Destroy Homes, Damage Health Facilities as Relief Teams Deploy

Officials are routing emergency support through the provincial disaster centre.

Overview

  • About 50 houses have been confirmed destroyed across the Amajuba and Umzinyathi districts after late‑afternoon storms with heavy rain, hail and strong winds.
  • Local assessments report 20 homes destroyed in eMadlangeni’s wards 2, 3 and 5, three people injured, and in Newcastle about 115 households affected with 30 houses destroyed.
  • Health infrastructure was hit in Amajuba, with damage at the Madadeni EMS base and the roof torn off Niemeyer Memorial Hospital’s OPD and casualty areas, causing flooding.
  • The Provincial Disaster Management Centre is coordinating food parcels, blankets and temporary shelter, with teams conducting mop‑up operations and moving displaced residents to Osizweni Community Hall.
  • In a separate Mpumalanga incident during SANDF’s Operation Corona, two soldiers were swept away in floodwaters, one body was recovered and a search continues for the second with SAPS divers and an Oryx helicopter.