47 homes destroyed, 20 injured after violent hailstorm rips through Zimbabwe
A violent hailstorm swept through central Zimbabwe Monday night, January 8, 2018, injuring at least 20 people.
The storm hit ripped through Silobela, Kwekwe District of the Midlands Province in central Zimbabwe. The worst affected were Wards 1, 2, 21 and 32, authorities said.
"47 homes were destroyed and at least 20 people injured," Fortune Mpungu, Kwekwe District Administrator said. The injured were treated at Silobela District Hospital and all but few discharged soon after, he said.
"Traditional leaders and our District Civil Protection Unit (CPU) team is on the ground assisting the affected and gathering finer details so that we come up with a comprehensive report that we will submit to the national CPU," Mpungu said, adding that the victims are in urgent need of assistance.
“The worst affected are those from Barange area under Headman Makaba and they are in urgent need of alternative shelter, water supply, blankets, basic food commodities and clothes as most of their property was destroyed by the storm. We have engaged Silobela legislator Mthokozisi Manoki Mpofu and the District Administrator’s office on the urgent need," he said.
Zimbabwe is currently in its rainy season, which runs from November to March.
A similar storm swept through Umguza District in Matabeleland North province on January 4, destroying or damaging 20 homes and a school.
Umguza District Administrator Tapiwa Zivovoyi said Umvuthu Primary School in Ward 2 had its roof sheets blown away, while 9 homes in Village 4 and 1 in Kensington had their roofs seriously damaged.
Featured image: Damage after intense hailstorm ripped through Silobela, Kwekwe District of Midlands Province, Zimbabwe on January 8, 2018. Credit: The Herald
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