TEN-MINUTE STORM LEAVES ONE DEAD

MANGCONGCO - Cattle belonging to different families were struck by lightning during a storm that swept through parts of the country yesterday. Tree branches fell on parked cars in other areas. (INSET) Some people were amazed by the size of the hailstones

MBABANE – It took less than 10 minutes for a plantation on over 100 hectares to be brought down by a storm.

The storm started with strong wind at around 2.15pm and those who witnessed everything, said they saw a white cloud forming, which seemed like a mountain.
The cloud was accompanied by lightning as the storm and the trees, which were about 13 metres tall, were cut into half like a machine had been used to cut them as the storm swept through.

Information gathered was that the storm started at Lundzi, where a toddler was killed and four homes were destroyed.
The road from Lundzi going past the plantation was blocked, as some of the trees fell onto the road.

According to Montigny staff members, who were found on the road removing the trees, the strong wind lasted for less than 10 minutes.
“It was like we were watching those Nigerian movies where black magic is used. The cloud came from the Lundzi direction and we watched indoors through windows.

Travelling

“It was travelling at a very fast pace and the wind was strong such that if you were standing outside you would have been lifted off your feet,” a Montigny employee stated.

Some of the employees stated that they did not want to continue standing where the damage occurred because they were scared of what happened.
An hour after the cloud and lightning passed, there was a hailstorm, which lasted for close to 30 minutes before the sun came out again.

At Mhlambanyatsi, which is 7km away from the plantation that was destroyed, the community members stated that they did not experience the storm.
An employee found at a garage stated that he only experienced the hail storm, which lasted for about 30 minutes and there was no strong wind.

A motorist who was found on the road, and was visibly shaken, stated that he was driving from Lundzi and that this was where the cloud came from. The man explained that he was driving on the road when there was sudden darkness and strong wind.

Opposite

“I just closed my eyes for a few minutes and when I opened them it was clear but the vehicle was facing the opposite direction. There were trees on the car and I was helped by some of the workers. I am thankful to be alive,” he said. Some of the employees who were found at the scene stated that they were still scared because what they saw was unbelievable.

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