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24 January 2025
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Welkom Fire Station, schools and businesses damaged by 'tornado', Matjhabeng
The second tornado in Welkom’s history struck terror in the hearts of residents on Sunday, 5 January 2025.
Several businesses and institutions suffered extensive damage, including the Matjhabeng Municipality Fire Station in Volksweg, where the roof was ripped off and the vast glass doors were shattered. This incident not only compromised the integrity of the building but also posed potential risks to the emergency vehicles housed within the building.
Severe damage was also reported at the Lejweleputswa Disaster Management Centre, the Unitas Secondary School and THS Welkom. The businesses and institutions affected have reported millions of Rands damage.
In his report, CFO Freddy Khuze said, “Just after 12:00, heavy rains started pouring down. At about 12:30, the sky was getting very dark, accompanied by thunderstorms. At about 12:40, the wind was blowing extremely strong and the personnel started to hear strange rumblings; the one firefighter described as if a helicopter was trying to land on the roof of the fire station.”
Assistant Fire Chief Francois Klaassen said that when the tornado hit the fire station around 12:40, “The eastern wing’s roof was blown off and the doors were ripped out.” The estimated damage to the fire station is between R10 million and R15 million. “It was built in 1968. The roof will have to be replaced and the electrical wiring redone.”
The officer on duty, Station Officer Nkhobo, immediately called CFO Khuze, who immediately went to the station to assess the situation.
Considering the communication challenges at the fire station, the mobile numbers of two personnel were put on various WhatsApp groups, Facebook and Social Media platforms, for the community to reach the Fire Department and Disaster Management, in order to report any emergencies or incidents.
The fire personnel immediately removed the debris from the fire engine and cleared a path in order to respond to any emergencies. Although the personnel were traumatised, none of them were injured during the incident.
Damages to fire stationThe roof of the fire department vehicle bay was completely blown away by strong winds. This incident not only compromised the integrity of the building but also posed potential risks to the emergency vehicles housed within the building.
• Machine bay roof torn off and blown away
• Machine bay glass doors badly damages and glass broken
• Machine bay roller shutter doors at back was ripped off and badly damaged
• Student quarters roofs torn off and damages
• Student quarters windows broken
• Lecture room, toilets, training offices and stores windows broken
• Fascia boards broken off and blown away
• Tree branches broken off
• Electrical damages to building
• Palisade fence damaged
• Walls partially collapse
• Damage to 5 Council vehicles:
Mahindra 1: Broken windows, canopy damaged
Mahindra 2: Broken windows, canopy damaged
Fire Bussie: Broken windows, roof damaged, front bumper damaged, dents and scratched all over bussie
Old Dennis: Left locker badly damaged, dents and scratched all over old fire engine
MAN Fire Truck: Dents and scratched all over fire engine, windscreen sun shield broken
Assistant Fire Chief Klaassen contacted the SA Weather Services in Bloemfontein, to get information about the incident that occurred. They were provided with pictures and video footage of the incident.
René Steyn, DA ward councillor, said wards 32 and 27 were hit the hardest. There was extensive damage to factories and businesses in the industrial area, and there were power outages in places. Councillor Steyn said they contacted the Office of the Premier so that provincial disaster management could assist, as the municipality’ emergency services were also affected.
The South African Weather Services said this aligns with an EF1 tornado. Single-cell thunderstorms are typically associated with weak tornadoes, often referred to as landspouts. These tornadoes are short-lived, usually lasting only a brief period, and typically cause minor to moderate damage.
Sources: CFO Freddy Khuze, Assistant Fire Chief Francois Klaassen, various newspapers
Quote of the week
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Lee Raath-Brownie
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Several businesses and institutions suffered extensive damage, including the Matjhabeng Municipality Fire Station in Volksweg, where the roof was ripped off and the vast glass doors were shattered. This incident not only compromised the integrity of the building but also posed potential risks to the emergency vehicles housed within the building.
Severe damage was also reported at the Lejweleputswa Disaster Management Centre, the Unitas Secondary School and THS Welkom. The businesses and institutions affected have reported millions of Rands damage.
In his report, CFO Freddy Khuze said, “Just after 12:00, heavy rains started pouring down. At about 12:30, the sky was getting very dark, accompanied by thunderstorms. At about 12:40, the wind was blowing extremely strong and the personnel started to hear strange rumblings; the one firefighter described as if a helicopter was trying to land on the roof of the fire station.”
Assistant Fire Chief Francois Klaassen said that when the tornado hit the fire station around 12:40, “The eastern wing’s roof was blown off and the doors were ripped out.” The estimated damage to the fire station is between R10 million and R15 million. “It was built in 1968. The roof will have to be replaced and the electrical wiring redone.”
The officer on duty, Station Officer Nkhobo, immediately called CFO Khuze, who immediately went to the station to assess the situation.
Considering the communication challenges at the fire station, the mobile numbers of two personnel were put on various WhatsApp groups, Facebook and Social Media platforms, for the community to reach the Fire Department and Disaster Management, in order to report any emergencies or incidents.
The fire personnel immediately removed the debris from the fire engine and cleared a path in order to respond to any emergencies. Although the personnel were traumatised, none of them were injured during the incident.
Damages to fire stationThe roof of the fire department vehicle bay was completely blown away by strong winds. This incident not only compromised the integrity of the building but also posed potential risks to the emergency vehicles housed within the building.
• Machine bay roof torn off and blown away
• Machine bay glass doors badly damages and glass broken
• Machine bay roller shutter doors at back was ripped off and badly damaged
• Student quarters roofs torn off and damages
• Student quarters windows broken
• Lecture room, toilets, training offices and stores windows broken
• Fascia boards broken off and blown away
• Tree branches broken off
• Electrical damages to building
• Palisade fence damaged
• Walls partially collapse
• Damage to 5 Council vehicles:
Mahindra 1: Broken windows, canopy damaged
Mahindra 2: Broken windows, canopy damaged
Fire Bussie: Broken windows, roof damaged, front bumper damaged, dents and scratched all over bussie
Old Dennis: Left locker badly damaged, dents and scratched all over old fire engine
MAN Fire Truck: Dents and scratched all over fire engine, windscreen sun shield broken
Assistant Fire Chief Klaassen contacted the SA Weather Services in Bloemfontein, to get information about the incident that occurred. They were provided with pictures and video footage of the incident.
René Steyn, DA ward councillor, said wards 32 and 27 were hit the hardest. There was extensive damage to factories and businesses in the industrial area, and there were power outages in places. Councillor Steyn said they contacted the Office of the Premier so that provincial disaster management could assist, as the municipality’ emergency services were also affected.
The South African Weather Services said this aligns with an EF1 tornado. Single-cell thunderstorms are typically associated with weak tornadoes, often referred to as landspouts. These tornadoes are short-lived, usually lasting only a brief period, and typically cause minor to moderate damage.
Sources: CFO Freddy Khuze, Assistant Fire Chief Francois Klaassen, various newspapers
Quote of the week
“We are not what we know but what we are willing to learn.” ~ Mary Catherine Bateson, cultural anthropologist
Fire and Rescue International is your magazine.
Read it, use it and share it!
Read the latest FRI magazine: https://www.frimedia.org/fri-vol-7-no-5.html
Read the latest Disaster Management Journal: https://www.frimedia.org/dmj-vol-6-no-1.html
FRI magazine archive: https://www.frimedia.org/fri-archives.html
DMJ magazine archive: https://www.frimedia.org/dmj-magazine.html
Enjoy the read!
Lee Raath-Brownie
Managing director
Cell: 082 371 0190
Contact us
Tel: 011 452 3135 or Email: [email protected]
Websites
www.fireandrescue.co
www.frimedia.org
www.facebook.com/FireandRescueInternational
www.twitter.com/FRI_magazine
http://www.linkedin.com/in/lee-raath-brownie-16668065/
