Death toll from storm in South Africa reaches 8

By Hassan Isilow

JOHANNESBURG (AA) - At least eight people were killed when a storm hit South Africa’s coastal province KwaZulu-Natal, an official said Wednesday.

Lennox Mabaso, spokesman of the provincial department of co-operative governance and traditional affairs, told Anadolu Agency that the death toll from Tuesday's storm may increase.

The provincial Health Department said two patients were killed after a wall collapsed at a local hospital on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, a child was swept away in the floods, and a man died after two shipping containers fell on his car.

Social media users posted images of vehicles submerged in water and uprooted trees.

South African weather services described the storm as a "super-cell thunderstorm" with winds blowing at a speed of 70 km/h.

The busy Durban Port remained closed on Wednesday after the storm affected its operations, an official told local media.

Local broadcaster Enca said train services may remain suspended for five days.

Several schools in the province suffered damages.