WATCH: Woman’s body recovered from Pinetown River amid heavy rain, severe flooding in KZN

Paramedics in KwaZulu-Natal have recovered a woman’s body from the Pinetown River amid heavy rains and flooding in the province.

Medics have been busy responding to numerous collisions, with reports of vehicles being swept away by flooding on the roads.

Volunteer paramedic at Mobi-Claw 911, Bianca White, told eNCA they recovered the woman’s body just after 12:30am this morning.

White said residents from the area reported that they heard the woman screaming when her car was washed away.

Recovery

It is understood that the woman, a pharmacist working in the Hillcrest area, was on her way home when her car was washed away.

“We were on our way out, we were going to call it, we were on our way home when something in me said we needed to make one more loop. That brought us to Gordon Road, where we walked down to the river, where there was a washaway car, and as we turned to our right, there was the vehicle,” White told the news channel.

“We called upon the eThekwini fire who were doing one last search, they came and went into the river and she was there.”

Watch the video of the Pinetown River where the woman’s car was washed away

Paramedics in KwaZulu-Natal have recovered a woman's body from the Pinetown River amid heavy rains and heavy flooding in the province. #KZN #Flooding Vid: ALS Paramedics: @TheCitizen_News pic.twitter.com/7tMM3r3Enu

— 𝙵𝚊𝚒𝚣𝚎𝚕 𝙿𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚕 ⚡️ (@FaizelPatel143) March 14, 2025

The havoc came after the South African Weather Service (Saws) issued a level 6 warning for disruptive rain and flooding in KZN.

ALS Paramedics spokesperson Garrith Jamieson said medics were inundated with several incidents, including two cars reportedly being washed away near Stapleton Road.

Raging river

Jamieson said the river on Stapleton Road is running at full capacity rather rapidly.

“Initial reports are that two vehicles washed away upstream towards the M7 near Winston Churchill. Although this cannot be confirmed, one vehicle is still unaccountable.”

Jamieson said they had to abandon the rescue effort as it was deemed too dangerous to continue.

“Rescuers will meet at first light to try and find what is believed to be a white car with one occupant in it. It was too dark and dangerous to try and search.”

Watch the flooded Stapleton Road river

KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) paramedics have had their hands full in the province with multiple collisions and some cars reportedly washed away by the deluge on flooded roads. #KZN #Floods #Pinetown #StapletonRoad Vids: ALS Paramedics @TheCitizen_News pic.twitter.com/xFdOx0Tky3

— 𝙵𝚊𝚒𝚣𝚎𝚕 𝙿𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚕 ⚡️ (@FaizelPatel143) March 14, 2025

ALSO READ: Children and adults missing in KZN amid heavy rains [VIDEO]

Warning

Meanwhile, residents and motorists in and around Pietermaritzburg were urged to exercise extreme caution following heavy rainfall on Thursday, which led to severe flooding and road blockages.

Several roads, including Orthmann Road, were affected, with traffic severely backed up due to floodwaters.

In Howick, downpours caused flooding on several roads, including the R617. Mandela Drive in Mpophomeni experienced floodwaters extending to the taxi ranks, forcing vehicles to navigate through the treacherous deluge of water.

Paramedics in KwaZulu-Natal have recovered a woman's body from the Pinetown River amid heavy rains and heavy flooding in the province. #KZN #Flooding Vid: ALS Paramedics: @TheCitizen_News pic.twitter.com/7tMM3r3Enu

— 𝙵𝚊𝚒𝚣𝚎𝚕 𝙿𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚕 ⚡️ (@FaizelPatel143) March 14, 2025

Heavy rain and floods

Floods have brought tragedy to KZN already this year, including the destruction of homes and the loss of 11 lives earlier in March.

Other provinces have also been affected by the heavy downpours.

Earlier this month, two Joburg residents described the horror of “terrible rain and wind” and the gushing of water that left them scurrying for cover.

This was said after heavy rains wreaked havoc, flooding parts of Johannesburg.

Floodwaters affected several areas, including Randpark Ridge, Newlands, Strubens Valley, Weltevredenpark, Jukskei Park and Witkoppen Road.

ALSO READ: ‘It looked like the Vaal River coming down’: Joburg residents pick up the pieces after floods [VIDEO]