Deaths, road closures and flooding after heavy rains
Unfortunately, it was not all good news as the KZN Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) reported on Friday that the number of fatalities in the province had risen to 19 since 25 October
REPORTS of good rains continued to flood in last week as the heavens opened over northern Zululand.
Unfortunately, it was not all good news as the KZN Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) reported on Friday that the number of fatalities in the province had risen to 19 since 25 October.
The fatalities included four casualties owing to lightning strikes at Jozini and one drowning at KwaDukuza (Darnall) and Ulundi each.
A total of seven lightning strike casualties were reported in uThukela, Ndwedwe, Maphumulo, Msuduzi and Ugu.
Two casualties of a collapsed wall owing to heavy rain in eThekwini were also reported.
A further three unaccounted for persons across KZN were still being verified.
PHOTO; Eric Brits
Roads flooded
On Thursday, the uMfolozi River burst its banks while damage to the N2 between the Petroport and Hluhluwe reduced the road to one lane. Flooding was also experienced on the R22 between Hluhluwe and Mbazwane.
Although the situation is returning to normal in the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, it is still unclear how many roads within the Park have been washed away.
Flooding of the Black uMfolozi River bridge between Nyalazi gate and Mpila Resort as well as the low level crossing at the Siwasamakhosikazi picnic site between Nyalazi Gate and Hilltop Resort meant that visitors could only access the Park through Memorial Gate (Hluhluwe) and Cengeni Gate (Ulundi) on Wednesday.
On Wednesday night, 109mm of rain was measured in the reserve.
The rivers did, however, subside fairly quickly and traffic returned to normal and visitors could travel between Memorial Gate through to Cengeni Gate without problems.
Motorists were advised not to travel to the popular Sontuli and Okhukho Loops as the roads were badly washed away.
Lake St Lucia
Nyalazi near Charter’s Creek received the highest rainfall over the past seven days with 221.4mm being recorded.
Dukuduku and Monzi measured 107mm and 74.4mm respectively during the same period.
Lake St Lucia has risen dramatically since the rains with the four feeder rivers all flowing strongly.
Measurements at the wooden Sugar Loaf jetty in St Lucia show the level of the lake has risen by just on a metre since Thursday morning.
The mouth is expected to breach at any time as the lake’s level rises.
Dam levels
The levels of all dams in the Zululand region have been increasing steadily over the last week.
By Friday morning, Goedertrouw Dam stood at 42.4 per cent of its full storage capacity (FSC), while Pongolapoort was at 41.7 per cent.
The Hluhluwe Dam was overflowing at 103.3 per cent.
Klipfontein Dam outside Vryheid was 62.8 per cent of its FSC and the Ulundi Weir at 32.7 per cent.
The Bivane Dam near Louwsberg was standing at 47.1 per cent on Friday.
The dam levels are expected to continue rising over the next few days as the waters in the swollen rivers reach the dams.
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