Watch: Debris flies as a tornado rips through Ekurhuleni

26 July 2016 - 21:09 By TMG Digital

Video footage has emerged showing the moment a tornado struck in Tembisa, whipping debris into the air. Video courtesy Jana van den Heever via FacebookAt least 20 people were injured when the tornado battered the City of Ekurhuleni on the East Rand on Tuesday afternoon. Ekurhuleni metro police spokesperson Captain Superintendent Wilfred Kgasago said that a "very strong tornado" passed through Tembisa at 4pm on Tuesday afternoon and that three places were affected - Phumulani Mall in Winnie Mandela section‚ Tembisa Hospital and a Total garage‚ both in Hospital View. Although there had been no injuries to staff or patients at the hospital‚ the Gauteng Health Department said that the hospital’s fence‚ carports‚ about 20 vehicles belonging to employees‚ including three ambulances‚ and the roof of one building had been destroyed. Trees had also been uprooted.Watch: Second tornado wreaks havoc in GautengA tornado wreaked havoc in the east of Johannesburg near OR Tambo International airport on Tuesday afternoon - the second to hit Gauteng within the last 24-hours. “The hospital is currently attending to people who were injured at the destroyed Phumulani Mall in Tembisa‚ about 20 people have been transferred to the hospital. We have dispatched ambulances from neighbouring areas to assist the hospital accordingly.” Earlier‚ Ekurhuleni mayoral spokesperson Zweli Dlamini told TMG Digital the city had already dispersed all is personnel following an alert issued by the SA Weather Service.Pictures, videos: Snow, rain and tornadoes - extreme weather plays havoc on SAFrom snow to flooding and tornadoes, extreme weather conditions have been playing havoc across the country this week. Dlamini said the teams‚ which include metro police‚ disaster management and emergency services would provide information to the city‚ which will then decide whether to declare disaster status in Tembisa...

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