Hail storm kills six in Chiredzi

A hail storm that pounded Chiredzi area has reportedly left six people dead  which left a trail of destruction in the area.

Masvingo Mirror reported that Chiredzi district administrator and Chairperson of the district`s Civil Protection Unit (CPU)  Clara Muzenda said assessment of the damage on the whole district was still on-going. She said so far 6 people had died and 52 houses which accommodated 320 people were destroyed.

Muzenda urged parents to look after their children during the raining period as most of those who died were children.

"I am still receiving reports from various areas and assessment is still underway. We do  not have enough resources so we requested for assistance from Red Cross who cane and visited the most affected areas on Sunday. A hailstorm hit a 30km in Matedzi which is in Ward 24 a stretch with 52 houses and most of the houses which were roofed with asbestos and iron sheets had their roofs blown away by the wind and walls dissolved by the heavy rains. 2 people died in the area, one was struck by a lightning and the other killed by the wall which fell on him while he was asleep" Muzenda said.

Comfort Mateta (5) and Abigail Mateta (3) of village 4 Bamba Triangle drowned in Mtirikwi river on their way to school. Sosana Mabharani (54) of village 6 Mkazi is the one who was struck by the lightning while Christopher Gambiza (8) died at Nyangambe when walls of their house collapsed as a result of the hailstorm. Andrew Muyangwa of Ranganai village in Chief Sengwe area drowned while swimming at Compani dam and Lucia Chiboho (5) of village 1 Crown Range was swept by a stream on her way to school.

DA Muzenda said some of the victims of the hailstorm needs more assistance. She urged parents not to leave their children going to school alone and urged traditional leaders to look for suitable accommodation in their communities for those affected by the disaster. news