/ 5 January 2000

RAIN FORCES GOVT TO ABANDON TORNADO VISIT

A GOVERNMENT delegation to tornado-wrecked areas in Transkei had to abandon their visit on Tuesday due to heavy rainfall and lightning. The tornado struck several Transkei areas on Saturday leaving three people dead and hundreds homeless. Government said it will be conducting “proper costing of the damage” — a process that was being hampered by the bad weather conditions in the areas. Affected areas are seven districts near Qumbu and Ncambele — near Tsolo, Qunu and Link — near Umtata, and Dambeni near Ntabakulu.