11 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING, 3 HOSPITALISED

SITEKI – A community meeting convened for purposes of discussing developmental issues almost ended tragically when 11 people were struck by lightning.

This happened at around 3pm on Saturday at Mdumezulu area, a tiny chiefdom sandwiched by Mbhadlane and Malindza areas, not very far from King Mswati III International airport.
Eight of those who were struck by the lightning were treated and discharged from Good Shepherd Mission Hospital in Siteki and the remaining three are still hospitalised. The meeting had been called by traditional authorities of the area, and in attendance were the Chief of Mdumezulu, Prince Kusa Dlamini and Headman (Indvuna yemcuba) Nakane Mkhabela.

Agenda

According to the community headman (Indvuna sigodzi) Khokhozela Mkhabela, the main agenda of the meeting was to discuss a proposed beans cultivation project, which is aimed at eradicating poverty and hunger in the community. “Immediately after the meeting, it started raining heavily. There was also lightning and thunder. I was about to tell the residents to move away from underneath the tree when there was suddenly a great flash of lightning. I then saw 11 people lying underneath the tree,” said Khokhozela. He said the chief had just left the meeting when the lightning bolt struck.

Khokhozela said all the 11 people were unresponsive and they immediately realised that the people had been struck by lightning. He said they quickly organised transport and rushed the victims to Good Shepherd mission Hospital in Siteki. One of those who were admitted to the hospital, Nonhlanhla Tsabedze, said she was feeling much better though there was still pain in her upper body. “The doctor said we are still going to be here so that he can monitor our situation,” said Tsabedze. When asked to narrate her ordeal, Tsabedze said she did not remember anything. “All I remember is that it was raining heavily and I turned to one lady, to tell her that we should leave because her baby could catch a cold due to the rainfall. I don’t know what happened after our conversation. I woke up in a hospital bed,” said Tsabedze.

Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati confirmed that there were no fatalities from the incident. Yesterday, traditional authorities of Mdumezulu visited the three women who are still admitted to the hospital.

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