THE KwaZulu-Natal disaster management team has assured the public that they will monitor the rainy weather conditions in the province. This comes after the South African Weather Services issued a Level 6 alert for King Cetshwayo and Umkhanyakude District Municipalities, while other municipalities in the eastern parts of the province are on a Level 2 alert.
The weather services warned that these persistent rains may lead to road, bridge and settlement (both formal and informal) flooding, as well as disruptions to essential services such as water, electricity and communication.
Also read: Weather warning: Heavy rainfall predicted for eThekwini and KZN
According to the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), the only impact has been on traffic flow, particularly in the eThekwini Metro, where some roads had to be temporarily closed due to flooding.
“Having closely monitored the rains since Monday, our disaster management teams have not reported any major or serious incidents at this stage. The team will continue assessing the situation in the coastal district where the rain has been pouring since Monday,” stated the department.
The department advised people to avoid crossing rivers and swollen streams where the water level is above ankle height.
“Residents are urged to adhere to the instructions issued by the municipalities and law enforcement agencies regarding road closures due to flooding. All the municipalities that are likely to be affected have taken precautionary measures, including preparing evacuation plans, such as public buildings as safe havens, in case some people need to be evacuated.
“Residents in low-lying areas are advised to move valuables to a safe place above the expected flood level. We also appeal to all residents to postpone non-essential travelling as some roads are flooded during this period,”
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