Strong Winds Cause Damage In Welkom, Two Injured

Two people have been taken to hospital after strong winds blew away the roof of a petrol station in Welkom, Free State.

According to Free State Department of Cooperative Governance spokesperson Zimasa Mbewu, the local fire station, a school, and several houses have also been severely damaged.

Mbewu says that it is not yet clear whether the weather event was a tornado or a severe thunderstorm.

"We are awaiting a report from the South African Weather Service whether it is a tornado as it is widely reported. At the fire station, the building was partially damaged, but there were no injuries although there were people on duty. The building is currently unoccupied but other local fire brigades in neighbouring towns have been called in to assist in the area of Welkom," Mbewu says.

The fire station building is currently unoccupied, and fire brigades from neighbouring towns have been called in to assist in Welkom.