A powerful hailstorm has damaged a health facility, two schools and other public infrastructure in Tshitulipasi, Beitbridge district, prompting authorities to assess the destruction before organising repairs.
The storm swept through the area on Tuesday afternoon, damaging buildings at Tshitulipasi Clinic, Tshitulipasi Primary School and Tshitulipasi Secondary School.
The clinic and secondary school serve an estimated 4,000 villagers in Ward 1, raising concerns about possible disruptions to health care and education services.
Jahson Mugodzwa, the Civil Protection Committee focal person in the District Development Coordinator’s office, confirmed the destruction and said officials were assessing the affected facilities.
“You will note that there are some extensive damages to most buildings here and we would need more resources to get things back to normalcy. However, we are still assessing damages in all affected areas in the ward pending further action,” Mugodzwa said.
The local Civil Protection Committee has deployed a team to establish the scale of the destruction and identify the resources needed to restore the damaged infrastructure.
Authorities have yet to determine the total cost of repairs or establish how extensively the storm has affected operations at the institutions.
The destruction follows a warning from the Meteorological Services Department (MSD) about thunderstorms expected in several parts of Zimbabwe this week.
The department identified Matabeleland South among areas likely to experience hailstorms and heavy rainfall.
According to the MSD, the storms could bring strong winds, lightning, hail and flash floods, particularly in low-lying areas, along rivers and in urban centres.
Authorities have advised residents to take precautions during thunderstorms, including avoiding isolated trees, securing loose outdoor objects and seeking shelter in sturdy buildings.
Members of the public should also avoid flooded roads and refrain from crossing rivers during heavy rainfall.
Original reporting – Herald
