By Local businesses and households, including the disaster management building in Welkom have been badly affected by severe weather conditions that have resulted in two casualties on Sunday, 5 January 2025.
According to the Spokesperson for the Free State Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Ms Zimasa Mbewu, Letjweleputswa District experienced severe weather patens on Sunday that led to a number of buildings being damaged. Welkom was the hardest hit by what is suspected to be a tornado.
Mbewu said the department is still awaiting a report from the South African Weather Services (SAWS) to confirm whether it was a tornado and a severe thunderstorm that hit the area; however, preliminary reports show that there are damages to a local fire station in Welkom, local petrol stations, several houses and a school.
She said there were two people who were injured at a petrol station when the roof was blown away by the strong winds and they were rushed to nearby hospitals.
“At the fire station, the building was partially damaged but there were no injuries although there were people on duty. The building is currently unoccupied but other fire brigades in neighbouring towns have been called in to assist in the area of Welkom.
The disaster management office was affected by the strong winds resulting in the building being completely out of network currently making it very difficult for the district disaster teams to be able to communicate with the public; however, the district teams have been on the ground since this morning attending to emergencies and even now we can report that they are still busy collating information,” said Zimasa Mbewu.
