UPDATE: Reports of a tornado near Wartburg, KZN

The SA weather service has confirmed that a tornado hit parts of Pietermaritzburg on Tuesday, Public Eye reports.

Umgungundlovu emergency services said they despatched fire officers to the area to assess damage and support rescue efforts. Cramond SAPS said this evening that houses were also damaged in the Thokoza township near Albert Falls.

“We have one reported case of a home that collapsed trapping its occupants,” said a SAPS officer from Cramond.

In the second video of the New Hanover twister, a tornado is seen forming over the cane fields. Smaller vortices have also formed around the main funnel cloud.

In the third video, by Robert van Wyk, the tornado touches down and within seconds the base expands rapidly.

https://www.facebook.com/stormreportsa/videos/443129193073306/

Warning:12/11/2019 18h00 TO:12/11/2019 23h00 Severe Thunderstorms- are observed over parts of Harry Gwala and uGu districts (KZN) with possible hail, strong winds and heavy rain that might lead to localized flooding..SAWS

— SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) November 12, 2019

Earlier on, an official from uMgungundlovu Emergency Services confirmed that a severe storm had hit the area, reporting that several homes have been destroyed.

An Eskom technician working in the Midlands also confirmed that colleagues had reported a severe storm in the area.

In the video posted by Garfield Randeree, a large twister is seen touching down in an area that resembles the Wartburg/Seven Oaks region.

The video was taken by two men driving in a bakkie. As the men filmed the tornado, they encountered severe hail and trees lining the road uprooted and snapped at their trunks.

Another video showing a twister forming over canefields had multiple smaller vortices surrounding the main funnel cloud.

Residents in Howick also reported severe storm systems with one social media user commenting that a tornado seemed imminent. Mark Handman posted a picture that was shared on the Storm Report Facebook page showing a dense black cloud over New Hanover approaching PMB.

Meanwhile, another related storm system tore through Pietermaritzburg at around 4 pm uprooting trees in the city and toppling power poles in the Mountain Rise area. Emergency services were responding.

The SA Weather Service issued a warning this afternoon urging residents to take shelter from approaching storm systems.

“There is an extreme danger to life due to fast-flowing rivers. There is also a possibility of mudslides and landslides especially along with elevated areas,” said the service.