NSRI Durban, NSRI Shelly Beach and NSRI Port Edward and emergency services are fully deployed assisting at floods in and around the Kwa-Zulu Natal North and South coasts.
NSRI Port Edward dispatched their sea rescue vehicle and Discovery Rescue Runner to the Umtamvuna River.
NSRI Shelly Beach are on high alert to assist Police Search and Rescue.
NSRI, assisting emergency services to evacuate persons trapped in vehicles, homes and businesses some of the incidents dealt with today are craft broken from moorings on the Umtamvuna River and assisted to be recovered by NSRI Port Edward and NSRI Durban fully engaged assisting emergency services in and around Durban where babies, children and adults are being assisted to higher ground and freed from entrapments in homes, in motor vehicles and flash flooded areas.
The latest update for those driving in and around Durban, or are heading back to the coast:
The Road Traffic Inspectorate reported that the N2 Prosepction is closed and drivers have left their cars on the roadway due to floods. Traffic is being diverted at Winkelspruit. One vehicle is trapped in a sinkhole.
UPDATE: Noon
Disaster management has issued the following:
EMERGENCY NUMBERS IN THE CASE OF DISASTERS.
Ina case where there is a disaster in your area and you need to contact your local disaster office, these are the numbers you should contact:
UGU DISASTER MANAGEMENT AND FIRE SERVICES:
CONTROL CENTRE: (039) 688 5830/36
MANAGER: MS MAKHOSI GOBHOZI: (039) 682 2414 / 082 332 400 FIRE PREVENTION OFFICER: SENZO MADIBA: (039) 682 2414 / 076 810 0191 RAY NKONYENI MUNICIPALITY:
RNM fire rescue law enforcement disaster: Protection services- 0396825555 CHIEF FIRE OFFICER: SELWYN NAIDO0: 082 418 2830 DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE: NOLUTHANDO MCHUNU: (039) 682 2414 / 073 618 9244 UMDONI MUNICIPALITY:
WITH heavy rains and strong winds causing havoc on the South Coast, residents have been advised to stay indoors and off the roads.
Margate Airport recorded 190mm of rain last night and it is still raining heavily. The downpour has been accompanied by strong winds gusting up to 40 knots.
Some schools are closing early. The P200, the back road between Port Shepstone and Gamalakhe, has been closed due to flooding of low level bridges and and the Pont Resort near Port Edward is under water.
According to Ray Nkonyeni Municipality spokesman Simon April, Fire Rescue and Disaster teams were monitoring the situation closely.
The Mbango River, early this morning.
“The heavy rains we are experiencing will persist almost up until the end of the week. We therefore ask residents to clean drains and gutter pipes. Residents of informal settlements should be extra cautious and should watch out for collapsing housing and landslides.
Motorists and pedestrians are urged to be extra cautious when crossing low level bridges. Please do not cross these bridges when they are invisible due to running water,” he said.
Lazer 911 has posted a message on Facebook warning people to stay off the roads as much as possible as the accident rate is already rising.
The Umtamvuna river has burst its banks, flooding the Pont resort.
According to Port Edward scribe Philippa Makepeace residents and staff at the Pont Resort woke up this morning to find the Umtamvuna River had burst its banks. Muddy water had engulfed many of the riverside buildings and the water was still rising, she said.
The resort is built at the site of the old pont that was used to cross the river before the Douglas Mitchell bridge was built. The area has experienced flooding before.
The P200 near Izotsha shortly before the road was closed
Mr April asked residents to report any problems like fallen trees or damage to public and private property. In the case of any storm damage posing a threat, residents should contact services@rnm.gov.za during office hours or the 24-hour number, 039 6825555.
