Heavy rains claims five lives in eThekwini
eThekwini Metro has been noted as one of the most affected areas, and the provincial government has coordinated disaster teams from affected municipalities to attend to those who need support or shelter.
FIVE people have been reported dead after heavy rains, accompanied by strong winds and hailstorms, battered parts of the province.
This morning, the KwaZulu-Natal Government is responding to several incidents within the eThekwini Metro that have been hardest hit.
It was reported this morning that dozens of people are being treated for injuries in healthcare facilities.
The heavy rains resulted in extensive damage to households.
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Yesterday, the South African Weather Services predicted a Level 4 alert of disruptive rains along the coast of the province with a high probability of flooding.
Early reports indicate that several areas within eThekwini Metro have been affected, with some roads flooded, trees fallen and significant damage to infrastructure such as power lines and roads.
The oThongathi area in the north of Durban has recorded the most incidents, with several homes severely damaged, roofs blown off and trees falling on electricity lines causing power outages.
Other areas around Durban, including Umgababa, Durban Central and the western parts of the city, also experienced heavy rainfall, leading to flooding of some households and roads.
The strong winds also affected communities in the Amajuba District and Umzinyathi District where houses were damaged by the strong winds in Newcastle, Dannhauser, Nquthu and surrounding areas.
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The disaster teams are currently assessing the extent of the damages while providing immediate relief, including accommodating displaced residents in government buildings.
The provincial government, through the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, has coordinated the disaster teams from affected municipalities to provide temporary shelter to those who may need it.
Public facilities have been opened as safe havens for the affected communities as the assessment continues. Roads are being cleared using TLBs to ensure that rescue workers are able to attend to the affected areas.
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