PRESIDENT Nelson Mandela officially declared on Wednesday the tornado-stricken Eastern Cape districts of Umtata, Libode and Ngqeleni as disaster areas, the Welfare Department said on Thursday. Those affected by a tornado which killed 18 people and injured 162 on December 15 can apply for relief, the departmental said. Applications will be considered by the board of the disaster relief fund. “The board will only look at people who have been affected by the tornado and will not address infrastructural problems,” the statement said.