Child killed in Eastern Cape storm
2010-12-23 21:07
East London - A 3-year-old girl was killed and her aunt injured when their house collapsed during the storm which left scores of people homeless in the Eastern Cape, police said on Thursday.
The child and her aunt were rushed to hospital after their one-bedroom flat collapsed in Doti, near Dutywa during the storm on Wednesday.
The aunt injured her left leg.
Earlier the province's health spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo said a man lost a leg in the Idutywa area when a roof fell on him. He was rushed to Frere Hospital in East London.
About 18 people from the same area were treated at Butterworth Hospital for lesser injuries.
Kupelo said 18 people were injured, three of them critically, when the storm hit a bus in the Qumbu area.
A number of injured people in the Mthatha area had been taken to Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital, while about 20 people with minor injuries had been treated at Peddie's Nompumelelo Hospital.
Earlier on Thursday, police said officials in various municipalities were taking stock of how many people had been displaced and what property had been damaged.
In the Mthatha region more than 100 houses and 200 vehicles were damaged. Four women were injured and 18 RDP houses were damaged.
"In Idutywa municipal buildings, police offices and about 26 police vehicles were damaged in the storm," Captain Lingisile Magama told Sapa.
Villages including Qora, Ngxakaxa, Govan Mbeki township, Old Idutywa, Colosa, Chizele, Nyawra and Ludondolo were hit by the storm.
Slovo Park, Chris Hani Park and Mandela Park were also hard hit.
"Affected residents were accommodated by their neighbours," Captain Zamukulungisa Jozana said.
More than 100 homes in Bityi were destroyed and police and government officials would visit affected areas to assess the damage.
- SAPA