LIVE | WATCH | #KZNFloods: Cyril Ramaphosa declares national state of disaster

Ramaphosa

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday declared a national state of disaster over the devastating floods around the east coast city of Durban.

“Cabinet met in a special session last night and decided to declare a state of national disaster,” Ramaphosa said in a televised address, noting that the hobbled port of Durban is a lynchpin for the national economy. – AFP

President Cyril Ramaphosa says: “Nearly 4 000 homes completely destroyed, and over 8 300 homes partially damaged in KZN.

“This is a humanitarian disaster that calls for a massive and urgent relief effort.”

President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to address the nation on the government’s response to catastrophic floods which have devastated parts of KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape.

The address follows a special Cabinet meeting yesterday where government assessed the social and economic aftermath of flooding in the two provinces and work underway to provide relief and rebuild.

President Ramaphosa visited the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality on Wednesday, 13 April, where he received an update incorporating the responses of local, provincial and national authorities to the provincial disaster.

The President has since the start of the emergency undertaken consultations with the National Disaster Management Centre and the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Disaster Management.

The President has postponed a Working Visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to attend to the impact of severe weather events that have since affected the Eastern Cape as well.

10 000 soldiers in KZN flood relief effort 

The South African army said on Monday it had deployed 10 000 troops to help the nation’s east coast recover from storms that have claimed 443 lives and ravaged infrastructure.

Some of the troops include plumbers and electricians to help restore power and water, which have been cut off in some areas for a week.

The troops are also providing field accommodation and water purification systems, the army said.

The deadliest storm on record dumped apocalyptic levels of rain on the city of Durban and the surrounding area of KwaZulu-Natal province.

Emergency relief 

At least 40 000 people were left homeless and more than 550 schools and nearly 60 health care facilities have been damaged, according to government tallies.

The government has announced an immediate one billion rand ($68 million) in emergency relief.

Funerals are being held across Durban even as grim tales of the catastrophe continue to emerge.

One woman was found dead with her three grandchildren after their car was washed away, while rescuers reported finding bodies washed into dams, local media reported.

Drinking water remains in short supply in many neighbourhoods.

Disaster assessments 

With main roads clear enough to allow heavy trucks, the city dispatched water tankers to the hardest-hit areas.

Running water was restored to some neighbourhoods over the weekend, but other areas could face a long wait.

“Some sites are still inaccessible and teams are waiting for the rain to subside before carrying out disaster assessments and the scope of work to be undertaken,” city spokesperson Msawakhe Mayisela said late Sunday.

Blue skies finally reappeared Monday, giving hope that the rains have at last subsided.

But the normally azure waters at Durban’s famed beaches have been turned a muddy brown by the mountains of earth and debris washed to the shore.

KZN premier Sihle Zikalala has denied allegations of preferential treatment in a video of a tanker delivering water to his north coast home.

A video posted on social media claimed that Zikalala had arranged his own “private tanker” that was meant to supply water to flood-ravaged communities.

Watch the video below:

Here is how Zikala responded:

Pietermaritzburg search and rescue police officer, Sergeant Busisiswe Mjwara (42), reportedly drowned on Sunday while searching for flood victims at the Henley Dam area in KZN.

According to Times Live,  a police dog that had tried to save her also died.

“Sgt Busisiswe Mjwara, 42, was a police diver in the Pietermaritzburg search and rescue unit. She was conducting a search at about 11.30am in the Msunduzi river for three victims that had drowned earlier in the week, when she got into difficulty and drowned,” the report quoted a police said in a statement.

Mjwara was airlifted to a nearby hospital but was sadly declared dead on arrival, The Witness reported.

The death toll from floods that have battered South Africa’s east coast rose to 443 on Sunday, including a rescuer, a provincial premier announced, as dozens more are still missing.

“The death toll now stands at 443,” Sihle Zikalala, the premier of the KwaZulu-Natal province told a media briefing, adding 63 other people are still unaccounted for. – AFP

KwaZulu-Natal floods deluge easing but flood emergency lingers 

Durban – Rains were expected to let up in South Africa’s flood-ravaged east Sunday after one of the deadliest storms in living memory killed nearly 400 and left tens of thousands homeless

Floodwaters engulfed parts of the southeastern coastal city of Durban and surrounding areas this week ripping apart roads, destroying hospitals and sweeping away homes and those trapped inside.

The city of 3.5 million was overcast but national forecaster with the South African Weather Service, Puseletso Mofokeng, said “rainfall is actually clearing”.

“The rainfall is going to clear all completely as we move to Wednesday,” he told AFP.

But recovery operations and humanitarian relief continued in the coastal city of 3.5 million whose beaches and warm Indian Ocean waters would normally have been teeming with Easter holidaymakers.

The number of flood-related emergency calls had decreased compared to early last week.

“Emergency services are still currently on high alert on Sunday morning,” Robert McKenzie of the provincial KwaZulu-Natal emergency services told AFP.

It rained on Saturday and overnight, “however now, it has stopped,” said McKenzie.

Even so, emergency services were busy attending to a scene in the district of Pinetown where a house collapsed overnight.

“Fortunately now the flood waters have receded and (some) roads cleared. It’s a lot easier to access the community,” he said.

Christians congregated at churches across the city to pray for those affected by the floods as they celebrated Easter Sunday.

Government and charities were marshalling relief aid for the more than 40,000 people left homeless by the raging floodwaters.

The government has announced an immediate one billion rand ($68 million) in emergency relief funding.

Hospitals and schools destroyed 

Deputy Social Development minister Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu, said some 340 social workers had been deployed to offer support to traumatised survivors with many still missing children and other relatives.

The death toll rose Saturday to 398 while 27 people were reported still missing, the government said in a Saturday statement.

Most casualties were in Durban, a port city and a major economic hub.

Parts of the city have been without water and electricity since Monday after floods ripped away infrastructure. Desperate residents have been seen carrying buckets of water using shopping trolleys.

Scores of hospitals and hundreds of schools have been destroyed.

The intensity of the floods took South Africa, the most economically advanced African country, by surprise.

It has previously watched similar tragedies hit neighbouring countries such as cyclone-prone Mozambique.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has postponed a working visit to Saudi Arabia that was scheduled to begin Tuesday.

“The loss of nearly 400 lives and thousands of homes, as well as the economic impact and the destruction of infrastructure, calls for all hands on deck,” said Ramaphosa.

The country is still struggling to recover from the Covid pandemic and deadly riots last year that killed more than 350 people, mostly in the now flood-struck southeastern region. – AFP

 

Times Live reports that charity groups are rallying together to assist victims of the recent KwaZulu-Natal floods with vital provisions, including mattresses and potable water.

At least 14 tonnes of food parcels, water and other necessities have already been distributed in flood-affected areas by civil society group We are South Africans, with another 20 tonnes due to be distributed in the coming days.

“We have partnered with Robin Hood Foundation and Farmers Aid as bases of operation. We have joined forces with Creflo Dollar Ministries (USA), Community Circle Home SA, Rhema Bible Church, For Afrika (Jam International), Redemption Church, Future City Fourways, Toyota Knights and Roundtable of Southern Africa,” the report quoted We Are South Africans as saying in a statement.

The South African Human Rights Commission has reportedly warned officials against stealing money meant for KZN relief efforts.

The commission is monitoring the distribution of the relief to flood victims, eNCA reported.

Government is making R1-billion available.

The commission said that it will ensure the resources reach those who need them most.

Statement on President Cyril Ramaphosa’s postponement of his planned visit to Saudi Arabia

President Cyril Ramaphosa has postponed a working visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to focus on government’s intervention in the KwaZulu-Natal flood disaster.

The South African government has communicated the postponement of the visit, for which President Ramaphosa was due to travel on Tuesday, 19 April, to the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The postponement allows the President to continue to meet with Ministers on the situation in the flood-ravaged province and to assess how the different spheres of government, in partnership with civil society organisations and communities, are addressing the crisis.

President Ramaphosa said: “The loss of nearly 400 lives and thousands of homes, as well as the economic impact and the destruction of infrastructure, calls for all hands on deck.

“As government, we are standing by the people of KwaZulu-Natal through the provision of social and material support to thousands of households and a vast number of businesses that have been affected by this catastrophe.

“We appreciate the solidarity and generosity with which people and organisations across the country have come to the assistance of those whose lives have been so tragically disrupted by the floods.

“We have also been touched by the expressions of concern and solidarity, and offers of assistance expressed by many countries around the world.”

TRADITIONAL LEADERS URGED TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO MOP-UP OPERATIONS AND RELIEF EFFORTS FOLLOWING DEVASTATING FLOODS

The Provincial House of Traditional Leaders (PHTL) in KwaZulu-Natal is making a clarion call to all traditional leaders in the province to provide their support in mop-up operations and relief efforts following the natural disaster which occurred recently in many parts of the province.

Areas under the authority of traditional leaders were negatively affected by the marauding floods which damaged infrastructure, public facilities and business and residential properties.

In areas under traditional leaders, infrastructure such as low-lying bridges and access roads, public facilities such as schools and service centers and residential properties were damaged by floods which were caused by torrential rains.

The PHTL under the leadership of Inkosi Phathisizwe Chiliza is urging traditional leaders to support relief efforts and mop-up operations which are underway in areas under their authority.

“We’re calling on all traditional leaders in the province to provide the necessary support to government, Non-Profit Organisations (NPO’s) and Non-Government Organizations in mop-up operations and relief efforts,” said Chiliza.

The PHTL is also making a clarion call to government and relevant stakeholders to ensure that they involve traditional leaders in all activities pertaining to mop-up operations, relief efforts and rebuilding plans for areas under their authority.

The recent floods not only caused damage to infrastructure, public facilities and business and residential properties but also the loss of lives. The PHTL conveyed condolences to all the families who have lost their loved ones as a result of the recent floods.

– Statement issued by the KZN Provincial House of Traditional Leaders

President Cyril Ramaphosa has reportedly cancelled his planned official visit to Saudi Arabia to focus on government’s intervention in the devasting floods in KwaZulu-Natal.

According to SABC, the trip had been scheduled for Tuesday.

The postponement will allow him and his cabinet to asses the damage caused by the floods and address the crisis, the report said.

The president was in the province earlier this week together with various cabinet ministers and they visited affected communities. He assured them that government will assist.

A report by eNCA said that at least R1 billion worth of emergency funding would be made available to the provincial government this coming week with further funding expected later.

Nearly 400 people have lost their lives, while thousands have been displaced.

The AmaZulu King, Misuzulu kaZwelithini, visited families affected by the floods in Kwa Zulu-Natal on Saturday.

He expressed shock at the extent of the damage caused by the floods in the province.

“It hurts as we speak at this point, there’s still people who have not been found, the number of missing people is so high and its shocking.”

Sunday Times is reporting that the government is looking at bringing in an independent agency to manage some of the billions earmarked for disaster relief in KwaZulu-Natal in a bid to avoid corruption.

Billionaire  Patrice Motsepe‘s foundation donated R30 million to flood relief efforts in KwaZulu Natal. 

“The emergency from our side is to start releasing those funds as quickly as possible so that tomorrow, or the day after, many of our people who are in this hall and other parts o the province can really start accessing those funds to improve their living conditions and try and find their feet to start dealing with the pain,” said Motsepe during an interview with eNCA.

Motsepe was part of a group of leaders, including the likes of KZN Premier Sihle Zikalala, Zulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithini and Shembe Church Leader Unyazi Lwezulu, who visited some flood-stricken areas in the province on Saturday.

News24 reports that the death toll in KZN has reached 398.

The report quotes Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) MEC Sipho Hlomuka as saying that at least 27 people are still missing.

eNCA is reporting that several roads across KwaZulu-Natal are closed due to heavy rains and floods.

Umlazi township is inaccessible, the report says.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has reportedly said that government needs to prepare better for natural disaster.

Ramaphosa said this, following deadly floods that wreaked havoc in KZN and left and left an estimated 40 723 people in a dire situation, according to The Citizen.

“We also need to deal more with better preparedness for disasters, particularly climate change-driven disasters as well as just the town planning because people have built in very dangerous areas of the topography of [KZN] and we need to be more careful,” the report quoted Ramaphosa as saying.

South Africa’s flood-ravaged east was hit by more rain on Saturday after the deadliest storm to hit the country in living memory killed nearly 400 people and left tens of thousands homeless.

Floodwaters engulfed parts of the eastern coastal city of Durban earlier in the week ripping apart roads, sweeping away homes and those trapped inside them, and pulling down heavy cargo containers.

Emergency services in the southeastern KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) province, where Durban is located, were on high alert as weather forecasters predicted more rain over the Easter weekend.

“It’s already raining in some parts of KZN but it won’t be as hectic as it was in the past few days,” Puseletso Mofokeng, senior forecaster at the South Africa Weather Service told AFP.

Read more from African Insider 

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday described the deadly floods that have hit his country’s southeastern region as a “catastrophe”.

“Bridges have collapsed. Roads have collapsed. People have died… this is a catastrophe of enormous proportions,” he said, addressing a local community after inspecting the damage from the floods that have claimed 259 lives. – AFP

The death toll from floods that struck the South African city of Durban stands at more than 250, the provincial health chief said on Wednesday, a sharp rise from previous figures of 59 dead.

“As of late last night, we had received something close to 253 bodies in our two different mortuaries,” Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu told eNCA television.

Asked to confirm the number for Durban’s municipality, known as eThekwini, she said: “253 in eThekwini last night.”- AFP

According to News24, KZN government officials have said that President Cyril Ramaphosa will announce the latest death toll.

“The official number is set to be higher than 253 and the President is set to make an official announcement,” the report quoted Premier Sihle Zikalala’s spokesperson as saying.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday met with devastated families in Durban, after record rains sparked floods and mudslides that killed at least 59 people.

In the township of Clermont, where homes are precariously perched on hillsides, he met a family who suffered the deaths of four children after a wall weakened by rains collapsed on them on Monday night.

“I have to come and see for myself the damage,” Ramaphosa said as he consoled the family.

“We see such tragedies hitting other countries like Mozambique, Zimbabwe, but now we are the affected ones,” the president said.

He was due to visit several other parts of the region pummelled by heavy rains in recent days.

Storms struck the southeastern province of KwaZulu-Natal as Durban, its main city, was still struggling to recover from deadly riots last July which claimed more than 350 lives.

Days of driving rain flooded several areas, tore houses apart and ravaged infrastructure across the city, claiming dozens of lives.

Officials have reported 59 flood deaths, but say many are missing as rescue and recovery operations are underway.

More rains fell overnight in parts of the province, according to the weather services.

A lull in the rain Wednesday saw residents begin clearing debris from roads and fill up holes left by raging waters to allow cars pass, an AFP correspondent said.

Parts of the province received more than 300 millimetres (13 inches) of rain on Monday, the heaviest one-day downpour in over 60 years, the South African Weather Service said.

“Some areas in KwaZulu-Natal have received more than double the maximum rainfall recorded during previous record rainfalls,” the agency’s spokesperson, Hannelee Doubell, told AFP.

News24 reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa will visit flood-affected areas in KwaZulu-Natal on Wednesday.

Ramaphosa’s visit would “offer support to affected communities and assess the response of government and civil society to this critical situation”.

He will visit areas that have been severely impacted by the floods.

“This is a tragic toll of the force of nature and this situation calls for an effective response by government in partnership with communities. “This situation calls on us to come together as a nation and offer assistance to those who desperately need our care and support,” the report quoted Ramaphoisa as saying.

Seven pupils and a teacher have lost their lives during torrential rains that have been pounding KwaZulu-Natal since Sunday night.

According to Times Live, provincial education department spokesperson Sihle Mlotshwa said a teacher died in the Ugu district on the south coast, while five pupils were reported to have drowned in Pinetown. Two pupils died in the Umzinyathi district.

Scores of residents are beginning to pick through what was left of their homes, as the skies cleared in parts of KwaZulu-Natal, reports says.

Here is what EFF said about the floods in KZN:

“It is one of the basic mandates of government to monitor weather services and the possible impact such can have on people.

“It is an undeniable fact that those in government ought to predict such disasters, as is the case in most capable societies, and then implement adequate evacuation measures in time.”

Eskom chief executive officer (CEO) André de Ruyter has reportedly said that the heavy rains and flooding which are causing havoc in KwaZulu-Natal are contributing to the power utility’s challenges.

“The heavy rain that we have experienced in KZN have contributed to some of the challenges we’ve had with our operational performance. We have had a significant ingress of debris into our Drakensburg pumped-storage facility,” De Ruyter said, according to The Citizen.

Opposition parties are calling on KwaZulu Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala to declare a state of disaster in the province.

New24 reports that Premier Sihle Zikalala is convening a special Cabinet meeting today at 17:00, following visits to various area hist by the floods.

WEATHER UPDATE: INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS LEAVE 45 DEAD ACROSS KZN, DISASTER TEAMS CONTINUE TO RESPOND TO INCIDENTS

Disaster Management teams are continuing to work around the clock to assist residents that have been trapped as a result of the inclement weather conditions which led to localised flooding of human settlements and roads across the province.

The latest reports indicate that over 45 people have lost their lives as a result of the heavy rains, this number could possibly increase as more reports come in.

A number of interventions are being rolled out by the Provincial Government which are spearheaded by the Premier of the Province Sihle Zikalala together with his executive, Zandile Gumede, MPL, Mayors and Councillors this includes visits to affected areas to lead relief efforts. Disaster Management teams and law enforcement agencies are working together with social partners to provide relief to affected communities.

The Provincial Disaster Management Centre is working with the SANDF and other stakeholders to provide aerial evacuation for those that are trapped including teachers and learners in Tholulwazi Secondary School (Molweni-Durban).The latest update from the South African Weather Service indicates that Durban and Virginia Beach have received 300mm of rains in the past 24hrs.The Weather Service has indicated that the heavy rains will continue into the evening along the coastal parts of the province (Ilembe, eThekwini and Ugu).

During this difficult time, we call upon residents living in low lying areas to seek shelter on higher ground.

Parents are urged to ensure that children are not left unattended.

– Issued by the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Sipho Hlomuka

The Jep Home for the Blind in Durban has reportedly been flooded, leaving at least 24 blind people stranded.

“We are dealing with a disaster. My blind people are in a state of panic. My immediate concern now is to evacuate them, but no one is helping us so far. The staff have been cleaning since dawn and we are doing our best to manage this disaster,” The Witness quoted Tracy Biggar-Botes, who manages the home as saying.

Cooperative Governance MEC Sipho Hlomuka says the latest death toll from the devastating floods in KwaZulu Natal has risen to 45 in the eThekwini Municipality alone.

He was speaking to Newzroom Afrika.

The Witness reports that bones of some of those buried at a cemetery in Ntuzuma D section in Durban, have been left exposed due to heavy rains.

The Lindelani informal settlement has been severely affected by the rains, the report says.

Residents are alleging that coffins and bones are scattered all over the area, including the roads near the cemetery, saying that people who have family members buried there should go check on the graves.

Democratic Alliance leader says: “An urgent intergovernmental rapid emergency response to the KZN humanitarian crisis must kick in – it’s time to save lives and rebuild.

“My prayers are with the families and loved ones affected by the devastating floods. Our DA public representatives will help aid communities.”

The torrential rains that have battered parts of KwaZulu-Natal since Saturday have shut down 500 MTN network sites in the region, the cellphone company said on Tuesday, according to Fin24.

“The flooding in the KZN region has caused power outages at many of our sites, and while we have battery back-up at many of the sites, these batteries have been depleted,” the report quoted  Jacqui O’Sullivan, MTN SA’s spokesperson as saying.

More than 500 schools are closed today due to the floods in Kwazulu-Natal. Another 97 schools have reportedly been damaged. KZN Education MEC, Kwazi Mshengu says the situation is dire, eNCA reports.

Times Live reports that a rescue mission is in progress at Sapref, a major crude oil refinery south of Durban, where workers were airlifted from the flooded plant.

One of the workers reportedly posted an urgent plea on Facebook staying: “We need help at Sapref. Phone someone please. We really need to get out. Please help us.”

Train services in KwaZulu-Natal have been affected by the floods which have devastated the province, The Citizen reports.

With the roads flooded, the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) has also temporarily closed the Cato Ridgeline due to the heavy rains that affected the safety of trains running on that line.

“This decision was taken for the safety of the commuters as well as Prasa employees. Prasa will continue to examine the lines and as soon as they are ready for the safe running of trains, they will be reopened accordingly, and the public will be notified,” the report quoted ~Prasa as saying.

The “iconic” traffic circle in the seaside town Umdloti, north of Durban, was reportedly washed away by heavy rain on Monday night.

According to Times Live, the traffic circle is a landmark in the popular holiday town.

Only half of the road remain, the report said.

“Motorists have to drive against the flow of traffic to get in and out of town,” the report quoted Umdloti Smart Village convener Brian Gibson as saying.

At least five people have been killed in floods and mudslides across South Africa’s port city of Durban following heavy rains in recent days, authorities said on Tuesday.

Days of rains have flooded several areas and shut dozens of roads across the city, which is popular for its idyllic beaches.

“Five deaths have been reported so far but we are still busy gathering information from the emergency services,” Lungi Mtshali, spokesperson for the Cooperative Governance ministry, told AFP.

Read more on African Insider 

More rain is expected in the province.

Parts of KwaZulu-Natal had five months worth of rain yesterday, Business Insider reports, adding that more than a fifth of a metre of rain fell at Mbazwana, just about 100km south of the Mozambique border.

The 206.4mm of rain measured at the Mbazwana Airfield station obliterated its previous record, at nearly three times the 62.6mm that had been on its books, said the report.

A report by EWN says that the SANDF has been roped in to help with the devastating flooding in KZN.

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Basic Education has urged schools and parents to use their discretion on whether or not to send children on Wednesday to school in light of the floods that have battered the province.

The Citizen reports that a mosque has collapsed, trapping the Muezzin (one who calls to prayer) under the rubble.

“The Banu Hashim Mosque located at Lady Bruce Place in Morningside collapsed on Monday after the heavy downpours.

Officials urgently requested the use of a TLB to free the trapped Muezzin,” the report said.

 

News24 is quoting sources within rescue teams across Durban as saying that they are overwhelmed by reports of houses which have collapsed and others where people have been swept away by raging rivers while trying to traverse flood waters in their cars.

“People are stuck on roof tops, and we have reports of entire houses have collapsed with people trapped inside. The entire city is flooded, and we cannot get to everything,” the report quoted one of the sources as saying.

A report by eNCA says at least 20 people have died and several remain missing in KwaZulu-Natal after heavy rains wreaked havoc overnight on Monday.

Major roads in Durban and Umlazi have been closed due to flooding, the report says.

A woman was said to have been killed in a landslide after her house collapsed in Westville, KwaZulu-Natal.

According to The Witness, the woman was unable to evade the landslide and was killed.

Medi response search and rescue division, ER24 and police rescue personnel were on scene, the report said.

A grandmother was reportedly swept away by raging waters when she attempted to drive across a low-lying bridge near a swollen river in Tongaat with her three grandchildren in KwaZulu-Natal, Times Live reports.

The incident happened on Monday night, the report said.

The strong current pulled the vehicle into the river, said the report.

Gift of the Givers says it is “awaiting assessments from various areas in KZN. We will be in attendance at the JOC Disaster Management meetings and will then intervene based on what’s required”.

News24 reports that airport containers have been washes away, blocking roads, as heavy rains continue in KZN.

The South African Weather Service says more showers are expected in kwaZulu Natal.

According to The Citizen, at least two people have died and 10 are missing in the KwaMashu and Umlazi as a result of the floods.

The KZN Education Department has also warned heads of schools and principles to shut schools which have been affected by flooding, the report said.

Paramedics are reportedly at the scene where a mother and her two daughters have been trapped under rubble after their house collapsed in Bonela in  Cato Manor in Durban.

Times Live quoted  ALS Paramedics spokesperson Garrith Jamieson as saying that a sand bank collapsed at the rear of the house, causing the structural collapse.

Heavy rains have continued to wreak havoc across KwaZulu Natal, resulting in cars being swept away and properties being damaged.

According to Times Live, the province has been pounded by rain since Saturday, causing damage, injuries and loss of life.

School have been closed, roads have collapsing and several accidents have occurred, the report said.

In one incident, residents were forced to flee when mudslide smashed into a house in the area –  sending in torrents of water and debris.

Worst-hit areas 

“We have been working flat out for the past 12 hours. We are currently working on three different rescues where vehicles have been swept away in rivers in the Tongaat area, the Lindelani area and the Stanger area.

“Unfortunately all vehicles, sight have been lost and the occupants of the vehicles are currently still in the vehicles,” East Coast Radio quoted Medi Response medics spokesperson Paul Herbst as saying.

Meanwhile, scores of residents have taken to social media to share images and videos of the worst-hit areas in Durban.

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Compiled by Betha Madhomu 

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