Africa-Press – Eswatini. A powerful hailstorm tore through the Northern Hhohho region on Tuesday afternoon, leaving communities from Mayiwane to Buhleni counting the cost of widespread destruction.
The storm, marked by intense winds, heavy hail and reduced visibility, battered homes, health facilities, vehicles and fields, while plunging thousands of households into darkness.
In Buhleni, several vehicles were crushed after large trees were uprooted by the force of the winds. Residents watched in disbelief as hail blanketed the ground, turning familiar landscapes into icy scenes. At Mkhuzweni Health Centre, parts of the roof were ripped off and hailstones blasted through ceilings, scattering debris across patient beds and corridors. Despite the damage, staff acted swiftly to move patients to safety, demonstrating resilience and teamwork even under extreme pressure.
Agricultural fields suffered significant hail damage as young crops were shredded, leaving farmers worried about the weeks ahead. Roads became slippery and visibility dropped sharply, forcing drivers to pull over to avoid further incidents.
EEC Confirms Widespread Power Outages
The Eswatini Electricity Company (EEC) has issued a public notice confirming extensive power disruptions across multiple communities, as strong winds damaged transformers, toppled poles and tripped feeders.
According to EEC, the most affected areas include:
– Madlangempisi Depot Zone: Buhleni, Ekutsimleni, Florence Mission, Ensingweni, Madlelo, Mbelebeleni, and surrounding communities.
– Piggs Peak Zone: Ndzingeni, Luhlangotsini, Nkomanzi, Msihlongeni, Ndlalambi and others.
– Manzini Zone: KaShali, Ngwane Park, Madonsa, Ngculwini, Luhleko, Mkhuzweni and neighbouring areas.
– Mhlume Zone: Siphofaneni, Lunkutu, Lugaganeni, Gamula and nearby communities.
– Elangeni & Stonehenge Zones: Ezulwini, Lobamba, Mbabane CBD, Dalriach, Pine Valley, Mantabeni and more.
EEC urged the public to avoid fallen powerlines and treat all damaged infrastructure as live. The company emphasized that teams are already on the ground assessing and repairing the network, and appealed for patience as they work to restore power safely.
Communities Rally Together
While the storm left a trail of destruction, emaSwati across the region have shown remarkable unity. Neighbours helped one another clear debris, shelter stranded motorists and comfort affected families. Health workers, emergency responders and community members acted swiftly to ensure safety, reflecting the nation’s enduring spirit of togetherness even in turbulent moments.
With assessments ongoing and clean-up efforts underway, hope remains strong that affected households will soon be back on their feet, supported by a nation that always rises together.
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