Home » Yikes! Second Tornado Hits South Africa… Damaging Mall

Yikes! Second Tornado Hits South Africa… Damaging Mall

After Monday’s snow, floods and a tornado… South Africa’s extreme weather conditions continued Tuesday with a tornado ripping through Tembisa, causing structural damage to the Phumhulani Mall and surrounding businesses. (See videos and pictures below.) According to ER24 Emergency Services several emergency response teams rushed through to Tembisa (north of Kempton Park on the East Rand, Gauteng) this afternoon […]

By SAPeople
26-07-16 23:23
in Eish!

After Monday’s snow, floods and a tornado… South Africa’s extreme weather conditions continued Tuesday with a tornado ripping through Tembisa, causing structural damage to the Phumhulani Mall and surrounding businesses. (See videos and pictures below.)

Tembisa
Tembisa. Photo: Twitter/ER24 Emergency Services

According to ER24 Emergency Services several emergency response teams rushed through to Tembisa (north of Kempton Park on the East Rand, Gauteng) this afternoon following the damage caused by “extreme winds”.

ER24 said: “Paramedics and rescue workers found debris scattered across the parking lot of the mall as well as twisted metal lying at the entrance of the mall. Several vehicles were also damaged.

“Initially reports were received that several people were trapped under the rubble. However, upon a scene assessment, emergency workers only found three people with minor injuries.

“It is believed their injuries were caused by falling debris. They were assessed on the scene and transported to a nearby hospital.

“Fire and rescue teams conducted a full search off the area to ensure no one else was trapped. At this stage the teams have not found anyone else injured.”

The area has been closed off by local police and emergency services.

In an update less than half an hour ago, Gauteng Weather said “20 people injured with homes, fuel station & mall damaged in Tembisa. 400 displaced on one of the coldest nights of 2016.”

Overnight temperatures in parts of Gauteng are expected to drop to fresh 2016 lows of -2°C in Vereeniging, 3°C in Pretoria and 1°C in Johannesburg.

Social workers and mobile clinics are being sent by the Ekurhuleni municipality to assist affected victims.

Kaya FM journalist Khayelihle Khumalo confirmed on Twitter that “City has brought salvage sheets to cover roofs, JOC [Joint Operational Centre] will operate 24 hrs and victims can dial 011 458 0911.”

Tornados in South Africa…

According to Gauteng Weather, a tornado is rare but not unusual in South Africa. “Most tornados occur in #Gauteng, the #FreeState & over the interior of KZN, anywhere around T-storms.”

The deadliest #Tornado in what’s now known as Gauteng took place on 26 November 1948 where four people died and over 500 homes were damaged in Roodepoort/Randburg.

Gauteng Weather said most tornados in South Africa are light, usually occurring in mid-summer but also spring and autumn. Apparently tornados usually occur between 4pm-7pm.

“South African and other Southern hemisphere tornadoes spin cyclonic or clockwise as opposed to anti cyclonic Northern hemisphere.”

Watch Videos: Tembisa Tornado, South Africa

https://youtu.be/yvwvxeMaEqY

On Twitter…

https://twitter.com/ER24EMS/status/757964634372575232

https://twitter.com/LesegoHughes/status/758031916146761728

https://twitter.com/crimeairnetwork/status/757958031514734592