News / Africa
Lightning kills three
16 Feb 2016 at 06:25hrs | Views
A SHEMBE church service ended in tragedy on Saturday when more than 40 members were struck by lightning!
They had gathered at Fantini temple in KwaMachi near Harding, KZN for their usual weekend service when the incident happened.
Daily Sun reported that three women died and 38 people were rushed to hospital with serious burn wounds. The lightning allegedly struck near a tree while the church members were kneeling in the open veld.
Duduzile Cwele (50) was identified as one of the women killed, but the names of the other two remained unknown.
Duduzile's niece Nomzamo Cwele (32) said she got an urgent call at 2pm, telling her about the incident.
"When I arrived at the scene the paramedics were already there," she said.
"My aunt was rushed to hospital but a few minutes later I got a message to say she had died." Nomzamo said survivors told her the lightning struck just before the church leader was about to end the service. Robert McKenzie of KZN emergency services said the injured were in a stable condition.
KZN traditional affairs MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube said: "I appeal to people in rural areas who use trees for community gatherings to disperse once clouds show there could be a storm. We'd like to send our heartfelt condolences to the families of all the victims."
Mhlaliseni Hlatshwayo, spokesman for the Ebuhleni region couldn't be reached for comment.
Daily Sun later heard that he was at a church event in Joburg.
KZN police spokesman Major Thulani Zwane confirmed that three inquest dockets were opened at Harding Police Station.
They had gathered at Fantini temple in KwaMachi near Harding, KZN for their usual weekend service when the incident happened.
Daily Sun reported that three women died and 38 people were rushed to hospital with serious burn wounds. The lightning allegedly struck near a tree while the church members were kneeling in the open veld.
Duduzile Cwele (50) was identified as one of the women killed, but the names of the other two remained unknown.
Duduzile's niece Nomzamo Cwele (32) said she got an urgent call at 2pm, telling her about the incident.
"When I arrived at the scene the paramedics were already there," she said.
"My aunt was rushed to hospital but a few minutes later I got a message to say she had died." Nomzamo said survivors told her the lightning struck just before the church leader was about to end the service. Robert McKenzie of KZN emergency services said the injured were in a stable condition.
KZN traditional affairs MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube said: "I appeal to people in rural areas who use trees for community gatherings to disperse once clouds show there could be a storm. We'd like to send our heartfelt condolences to the families of all the victims."
Mhlaliseni Hlatshwayo, spokesman for the Ebuhleni region couldn't be reached for comment.
Daily Sun later heard that he was at a church event in Joburg.
KZN police spokesman Major Thulani Zwane confirmed that three inquest dockets were opened at Harding Police Station.
Source - Daily Sun
