SINTHUMULE - Eighty-seven families of Tshiozwi, Madombidzha, Gogobole and Rathidili were left homeless last Wednesday afternoon, after heavy rain damaged houses and uprooted trees.

According to available information, a 61-year-old man of Tshiozwi Village lost consciousness after his house had been left roofless and he was exposed to the elements. He was admitted to the Louis Trichardt Memorial Hospital, and died the following day.

On Thursday, many villagers were still drying out mattresses, blankets, clothes and furniture. Some property was rendered unusable.

The devastation affected many families in other villages. This was evident at Tshiozwi and Madombidzha, and the Sedzaphanda Brickyard Offices and Sinthumule Post Office were also smashed to the ground.

According to one of the disaster victims, Mr Wilson Manganyi of Tshiozwi, whose RDP house was severely damaged, the wind swept through the village leaving everyone trying to take cover. Soon big raindrops pelted down. This was followed by loud cracks of thunder and streaks of lightning, which lit the darkened neighbourhood.

The situation worsened, as deafening sounds started coming from the roof. He indicated that his RDP house's windows and his son's car's windscreen were smashed by a flying object driven by wind. He added that the walls started to shake and the roof rattled and shook violently. The roof sheets were also torn off.

Members of his family who were in his house assisted each other in scampering to a shack with a roof still intact. As suddenly as it had come, the storm subsided, and it was time to assess the damage done to property.

The spokesperson of Makhado Municipality, Mr Peter Muleya, said the municipality sympathised with the victims and helped with the rescue effort, by issuing tents to those who were left homeless. The municipality was still assessing the damaged caused by the storm and the rain. Approximately 87 houses were damaged by the storm.