Heavy flooding in KwaZulu-Natal on Monday claimed two lives in the eThekwini Metro ward 47 (KwaMashu) and 87 (Umlazi) while two other people are missing after their car was swept away in Molweni. The heavy rain has damaged peoples’ homes in KZN after the South African Weather Service (SAWS) issued an orange level 5 warning of flooding.
Sipho Hlomuka, the provincial cooperative governance and traditional affairs MEC, confirmed that the heavy flooding claimed two peoples’ lives, one in KwaMashu and the other in Umlazi. Two other people went missing as the heavy flooding swept away their car in Molweni.
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“Since Sunday, disaster management teams have been responding to incidents such as mudslides, structural collapses and flooded roads,” said Hlomuka. Rescue efforts are underway to evacuate residents into community halls in high-risk areas such as KwaDabeka and Inanda in the eThekwini region. “Residents are urged to follow instructions given by disaster officials and law enforcement in response to the incidents that have been caused by inclement conditions.
“Disaster management teams continue to monitor low river crossings in the Ray Nkonyeni, Umzumbe and Umdoni municipalities. Residents who are directed to evacuate their properties are urged to follow instructions given to them by disaster management officials,” Hlomuka said.
Msawakhe Mayisela, the eThekwini municipality spokesperson, said the town’s disaster management unit was on high alert as some of the roads were flooded cased by the rising water as the rain continued. “Bad weather has also impacted infrastructure, with several areas experiencing power outages, Mayisela added. A total of eleven people have now been conformed to have been killed in the floods.
Source: News24, The South African, The Citizen, image from News24 of Medi response team conducting rescue work in Umdloti
