Home » 196 Rooms Damaged, 2 Injured – Sun City Cleans Up After Freak Hail Storm

196 Rooms Damaged, 2 Injured – Sun City Cleans Up After Freak Hail Storm

Things are looking a little brighter at Sun City today after a monster hail storm hit yesterday afternoon, 15 December 2018, damaging large parts of the hotel – including around 200 rooms – and resulting in two people being taken to hospital. Sun City confirmed on Sunday morning that Sun Central and the Valley of Waves […]

By SAPeople
16-12-18 12:14
in Eish!

Things are looking a little brighter at Sun City today after a monster hail storm hit yesterday afternoon, 15 December 2018, damaging large parts of the hotel – including around 200 rooms – and resulting in two people being taken to hospital.

Photos Sourced: Arrive Alive

Sun City confirmed on Sunday morning that Sun Central and the Valley of Waves will be open today for day visitors and hotel guests.

The resort said that two people sustained injuries after slipping on wet floors. They were treated at the onsite clinic before being transferred to nearby hospitals.

Thabo Mosololi, Sun City’s Chief Operating Officer, said in a statement Sunday morning that most of the damage during the freak storm was caused by flash flooding at the Sun Central family and entertainment precinct, and in ground floor hotel rooms.

By midnight last night, the estimated number of rooms affected include 80 rooms at the Soho Hotel, 40 rooms at the Cabanas, 30 at the Cascades Hotel, 26 at the Vacation Club and 20 at The Palace. (Full Sun City statement below.)

Some disgruntled hotel guests, who found themselves wading through water in the hotel, took to social media to complain… but were chastised by other social media users and it was pointed out this was a natural disaster and that “nobody drowned, was buried alive or watched their children washed away”.

However, some regular guests like Johannes Kleinhans – who checked out from his annual week-visit on Friday – said they have noticed a degrading in general maintenance over the past three years and would not be surprised “if blocked stormwater drains caused the flooding”.

One guest posted a video to Twitter showing part of a resort ceiling collapsed.

Sun City guest Hanneke Strauss reacted to Sun City’s statement last night saying: “Absolute lies! Guests were not evacuated immediately, there was STILL no response from management, the resort took no responsibility or attempt to assist with anything. Literally hundreds of guests at the vacation club had no where to go, no explanations or contingency plans or ANY communication from the resort whatsoever. All we heard is – this is not my responsibility…”

Some joked with photos of hail in the corridors and asked: “Is your ice machine working?”

“Is your ice machine working wena?” joked one social media user.

Ben Stone joked: “Why are people complaining? The Lost City is supposed to resemble an ancient ruin, the storm just added some authenticity to the ruins.”

Sun City’s latest statement, Sunday 16 December, in full:

Sun City Resort can confirm that a freak hail storm which hit the North West region of the Pilanesberg and surrounding areas around 4.30 pm yesterday afternoon has caused damage to buildings and vehicles. The Resort can confirm that the situation is serious but under control.

Most of the damage was caused by flash flooding at the Sun Central family and entertainment precinct, and in ground floor hotel rooms. Visitors intending to travel to Sun City are advised to first check with the respective hotels they are booked into, before travelling to the resort.

By midnight last night, the estimated number of rooms affected include 80 rooms at the Soho Hotel, 40 rooms at the Cabanas, 30 at the Cascades Hotel, 26 at the Vacation Club and 20 at The Palace.

Day visitors were immediately evacuated from Sun Central and Sun Welcome Centre which sustained most of the storm damage, and they were bused back to their vehicles at the main Car Park.

The Resort’s Emergency services are on the ground and are continuing to assess the extent of the damage.

Contingency plans are in place, and mop up operations are underway in damaged hotel rooms and public areas to ensure that normal operations resume as soon as possible.

Guests whose accommodation was affected were being provided with alternative options. Some guests opted to leave the resort to return home.

Two people sustained injuries from slipping on wet floors. They were treated at the onsite clinic before being transferred to nearby hospitals.

Sun City says it will continue to update on its Facebook page. Visitors intending to travel to Sun City are advised to first check with the respective hotels they are booked into, before travelling to the resort.

https://twitter.com/_Ntsiki_/status/1074026719596736512

View more photos, videos, images of Sun City damaged by freak hail storm, 15 December 2018