KZN Floods Turn Deadly, Disaster Management Teams Recover Five Bodies Swept Away After Heavy Rains
- Disaster management workers recovered the bodies of five people who were swept away during flooding
- The victims, including three children, were swept away in the Lamontville area following heavy rains
- Several roads are affected and emergency services officials are working on rescuing any trapped people
Source: Twitter
Briefly News journalist Byron Pillay has spent a decade reporting on the South African political landscape, crime and social issues. He spent 10 years working for a community newspaper before transitioning to online
KWAZULU-NATAL – Tragedy has struck in the Durban South area as emergency services workers have recovered five bodies following heavy flooding in the area.
The area has been battered by heavy rains which led to destructive flooding, with emergency services from the Ugu District Municipality and Ray Nkonyeni Municipality on high alert.
Earlier five people, including three children, were reported missing in the Lamontville area after they were swept away by the heavy flooding.
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You can watch a video of the raging water in the area HERE.
Officials visit area, victims' names released
MEC for Transport and Human Settlements Siboniso Duma, MEC for CoGTA Thulasizwe Buthelezi, and Mayor of eThekwini Councillor Cyril Xaba along with other officials visited the area to offer their condolences to the affected families.
During the visit, the identities of the five victims was made public. They are Snokhanyo Dingiswayo (16), Anathi Dingiswayo (11), Lethu Dingiswayo (5), Lucia Ndobongo (56) and Zondeni Gcabashe (60).
eThekwini Municipality confirmed that it will assist with the burials and also that people living in flood-prone areas around Ward 74 will be moved.
Disaster Management teams on high alert
Officials have been busy throughout the night as rain continued to batter the area.
The Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) noted that they have received numerous calls from residents who are affected by rising floodwaters. The flooding has also affected roads, leaving motorists stranded.
Affected areas include the N2 Murchison, Umbango Bridge, Kwangwabe, Grace Low Level Bridge, Beach Garage and Nkongweni Bridge and OK Foods and Pharmacy in Margate.
You can view some of the flooding HERE.
CoGTA MEC promises swift action
Addressing the current crisis, CoGTA MEC, Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi assured residents that disaster response teams were working around the clock too. He noted that there were many trapped by the floods and officials were working on rescuing them.
“Our priority is the safety and well-being of our residents. We are working tirelessly to assist those affected by the floods and to lessen further damage,” he said.
The area has been battered by inclement weather lately, with numerous lives being lost. On 22 February, Rev Buthelezi confirmed that nine people had died in the past week from weather-related tragedies inthe province.
Three people alone were killed on 20 February in a mudslide in the KwaMakutha area.
Woman drowns at Uvongo Falls
In a related article, a woman tragically drowned when she slipped into the raging water near the Uvongo Falls and was swept away by the current.
Briefly News reported that the strong current and floating debris made rescue efforts impossible on 27 February and her body was not recovered.
Heavy rains and flooding have battered the province, leaving at least seven others dead in just one day in other parts of the province.
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Source: Briefly News
