From warnings to deaths - five must-read stories on KZN storms

Residents of KwaZulu-Natal are living in fear amid thunderstorms and floods that have destroyed homes and lives.

The turbulent weather followed recent warnings issued by the SA Weather Service. It warned of thunderstorms, heavy rain and possible flooding.

The Midlands, north coast and parts of Durban were most seriously affected.

Here are five must-read stories:

Four deaths, government intervenes

Four people, including two teenagers, lost their lives two weeks ago in Mkhuze, in the northern part of the province. Government officials told TimesLIVE they believed the four were killed by lightning. Cogta MEC Sipho Hlomuka conveyed condolence messages to the affected families and said the government would deploy a disaster management team to assist with aid.

Emergency services on high alert 

Hlomuka told TimesLIVE that the government was on high alert after the deaths in Mkhuze. He cautioned people in areas prone to lightning not to walk on walkway bridges during storms and to be on high alert. Hlomuka expressed confidence in his team's ability to rescue those affected by floods.

“Our disaster management teams are on standby in areas prone to flooding and they will be monitoring the situation. We have full confidence in our teams' ability to provide the necessary support should the need arise.”

Rescue teams search for 7-year-old boy

On Tuesday, a 7-year-old boy was swept into the flooded Nonoti River on his way home from school in Darnall, on the KZN north coast. IPSS Rescue's Dylan Meyrick said rescue services had called for a sniffer dog to help them. However by 5:30pm, when the search was called off, the boy had not been found. His body was recovered the next day, IPSS said in a statement on Wednesday.

“Tornado” spotted in Bergville 

On Thursday Storm Report SA posted footage of a “tornado” in Bergville, KZN. Ayanda Ntsele, a forecaster at the SA Weather Service office in Durban, clarified that the “tornado” was in fact a “funnel cloud.” Ntsele said although a tornado was detected, it had not touched the ground.

Bergville, according to Ntsele, is prone to severe weather conditions.

“SAWS issued a warning for severe storms, with damaging wind, hail and heavy [rain] falls. Around Bergville, most of the time, when there are storms, there are fatalities and injuries from lightning. The area is very prone to thunderstorms.”

Two deaths, 20 injuries in Mpolweni 

Two people died and 20 sustained minor injuries when a powerful storm hit Mpolweni, near Wartburg in KZN on Tuesday. ER24 spokesperson Ross Campbell said paramedics responded to the scene at about 5:20pm.

According to Campbell, two people were declared dead on the scene. “Provincial medics were already on the scene, having assisted with nine patients. Two adults were unfortunately declared dead. ER24 set up a triage area and treated and transported a further nine patients with minor to moderate injuries to various hospitals in the area.”