‘Storm from hell’: Hwange counts losses after devastating rains

BY NOTHANDO DUBE

Heavy rains that were accompanied by gusty winds on Tuesday hit Hwange, leaving a trail of destruction in the coal mining town.

The hailstorm started at around 2PM and went on for close to an hour.

Trees were uprooted around the town while fences, cars, electricity poles were brought down.

Several roads were blocked by uprooted trees and some houses were flooded.

At Thomas Coulter Primary School, two large trees were uprooted, and tree branches were strewn all over the place.

The school’s weather station was damaged.

“The rains were quite fierce,” said a teacher at the school.

“A tree close to the kitchen was uprooted by the wind and another one next to the weather station was also brought down by the wind.

“The fence will definitely need to be replaced and some of the weather instruments were damaged beyond repair.

“On the pathway towards the tuck-shop, another huge tree fell across, but fortunately it did not hit any building while another tree branch fell on a signpost at the infants department. ”

A motorist also lost his car which was parked outside the Pick ‘n Pay square in the central business district after a tree was also uprooted.

An employee at the Zambezi Gas and Coal said a huge electricity pole was uprooted by the wind amid fears of a blackout.

“The rains were really heavy,” the employee, who requested to remain anonymous said.

“A huge pole at my workplace was hit by the storm and we hope this will not affect the electricity supply at the mine.

“The rain was just too much, and the roads were flooded. One car was almost swept away.”

Some church premises were also damaged by the rains.

Zimbabwe has been receiving heavy rains in the past few days, which have destroyed infrastructure in some parts of the country due to heavy winds.