Tornado, storm, wreak havoc

2008-10-09 09:05

Samantha van den Berg

Port Elizabeth - Heavy rain, a tornado, devastating lightning and crippling power cuts caused huge disruptions in Port Elizabeth and the Eastern Cape.

Rain poured down on Wednesday morning, turning roads and low-lying areas into streams within moments.

In Bethelsdorp, a flooded causeway claimed the life of a 50-year-old woman, said police spokesperson captain Johann Rheeder. The woman tried to cross the bridge but drowned.

It was chaos in Grahamstown after a tornado swept through the town at 11:00, injuring three people and damaging many houses.

Warnings of hail, heavy rain and wind were broadcast regularly over radio and the public was warned to remain indoors.

Many PE residents had to stay in their homes, in ankle deep water.

Body of water

A cloudburst in Seaview damaged homes and resorts and roads were eroded in places by the water.

Leon Cronje, a resident of Stuurboord Street in Seaview, was at work when he heard his home had been flooded. "I probably suffered damages of about R400 000."

Cronje, who spent the whole of Wednesday ankle deep in muddy water, cleaning up, said he got a huge fright when he walked into the house. "I didn't expect this mess."

Henry Lansdown, executive head of disaster management, said Bethelsdorp was the biggest problem area and 400 people were evacuated on Wednesday. A total of 700 people were evacuated in Port Elizabeth.

Colin Naidoo, spokesperson for the Airports Company SA (Acsa), said four flights had been affected by the weather.

Rulene Peens of the PE weather office said the weather would clear up on Thursday.

The Beachview holiday resort's roads and houses were under sand, and the old Maitlands holiday resort, which was currently closed, was also under water. Two residents of Rowallanpark also had houses damaged by rain.

Froneman Street resident Hazel Nortjie said she stood at her front door when she saw the water coming down "like a river".

"I ran away because it was a body of water. If I had closed the door, the water would have pulled it from the frame."

Linda van Aardt, who lived in Strydom Street, described the storm as a disaster. "When the water hit my front door, it reached up to my hip and everything in my house was drenched with muddy water."

The Blue Horizon Bay community hall was also under sand, which had come down with the rainwater and according to André Gerber, manager of community halls in the metro, it was inaccessible.

- Die Burger