A toddler is among five people who died during a thunderstorm that ravaged Mtubatuba in KZN over the weekend.

The heavy rains, which began on Saturday, caused damage to Eskom power lines, schools, and road infrastructure.

KZN MEC for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Bongiwe Sithole-Moloi will visit the affected families today to convey her condolences.

She will assess the extensive damage in the area, where the thunderstorm destroyed several homes.

Various government departments are collaborating to assist the community.

“Our teams, in conjunction with municipalities, will persist in assessments to determine necessary government intervention,” says Sithole-Moloi.

“We extend condolences to those who lost loved ones during this period.

“While we acknowledge that certain incidents are unavoidable, such as the thunderstorm with strong winds that devastated houses in Mtubatuba, we encourage communities to take safety precautions, such as relocating to safer areas where possible,” she adds.