Four people have been tragically lost and more than 150 rendered homeless in South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal following a severe tornado that struck the southeastern province this week.

The province’s disaster management department confirmed the tragic news in a statement on Thursday, while also revealing that a fifth person was missing in the aftermath of the tornado that hit north of Durban on Tuesday.

Powerful winds and heavy rainfall damaged roads, flooded houses, and damaged public infrastructure including sewage systems. The rainy season in KwaZulu-Natal usually runs from November to March, but the exceptional rainfall at this time of year is a sign of the true effects of climate change, according to the department.

Nonala Ndlovu, a spokesperson for the province’s department of cooperative governance, said the devastating tornado and rainfall are particularly worrying in light of the tragic floods that occurred in April 2022.

At that time, more than 400 people lost their lives in Durban and surrounding areas, making it the worst floods in living memory. The KwaZulu-Natal disaster management department is working hard to assess the damage caused by this week's tornado and rainfall in order to find the best way to help those affected.

The department has pleaded with the public to help those who are still missing and to assist the homeless in any way they can. In the meantime, the department is focusing on optimizing the resources available to them and has urged all KwaZulu-Natal residents to remain vigilant and take all necessary safety precautions in order to protect themselves and their families from further danger.

The department has also warned that there may be more rain and strong winds in the coming days and has urged locals to stay informed of all weather-related updates. KwaZulu-Natal is reeling from the devastating tornado and rainfall, but the authorities are doing everything they can to help the affected and to ensure that no more lives are lost.