THE South African Weather Service has confirmed a message doing the rounds on WhatsApp is fake. The message purported that a cyclone had hit Port Edward. However the service took to Twitter to dispel the rumours.
According to the service, gale force winds in and around Durban is expected to move northwards to Richards Bay in the next two hours moderating from the south.
This is a hoax. A short lived gale force wind causing damage in and around the coastal areas of KZN is due to a low offshore. Not a cyclone. https://t.co/3s9Y170koj
— SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) September 16, 2017
“Winds dying down in the Durban area to 50km/h now with the short lived gale force wind moving north to Richards Bay.” the service
Mntunzini south of Richards Bay at 27 knots (54km/h) gusting 44 knots (88km/h) expected to increase moving to Richards Bay soon #Durbanwind
— SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) September 16, 2017
Earlier this afternoon, gale force winds wrought havoc in and around Durban with several collapsed trees being reported. Photos of the destruction have surfaced on social media.
In one of the worst incidents, a tree came crashing down on a Mercedes Benz at the Mount Edgecombe Plaza. The driver and occupants of the vehicle were lucky to escape uninjured.
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