A freak storm which hit Tongaat in KwaZulu-Natal last night left a woman and a child dead. The two victims died in two separate incidents in which the houses collapsed. Several families where displaced while others were injured.

FATALITIES

In a statement, Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa) said they were called out to the residence on Rama Drive after the wall collapsed on a woman as the storm swept through. Their officers cleared the debris and retrieved the woman's body, but she had sustained life-threatening injuries and was pronounced deceased on the scene in Tongaat. In a separate incident, in Sandfields, a 16-month-old baby was killed when a house collapsed. Rusa added in the statement that their Tongaat Operations Centre received multiple calls for assistance on Zondi Street in Sandfield and on arrival, reaction officers discovered that a house wall collapsed and crushed the 16 month old baby and the mother. Residents removed the injured from the rubble. One child suffered life threatening injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene. Her twin sister and sustained serious injuries and was taken to hospital together with their mother who sustained minor injuries.

TRAGEDY

Meanwhile, several homes in Magwaveni and Sandfields have collapsed, forcing dozens of residents including minor children, to seek shelter elsewhere.. Arrive Alive said that trees blocked roads causing major traffic jams. "Several vehicles were also damaged. While many of the injured have been transported to various medical facilities. Local authorities are on the scene for assistance and further investigations. We urge community members to remain indoors as the storm passes through KZN.