Inclement weather wreaks havoc, claims one life
More rain is expected throughout the day in eThekwini, with the city bracing for further impact and damage. Clean-up operations are underway in various areas.
MOP-UP and rescue operations are underway throughout eThekwini after the city was battered by heavy rains that caused widespread flooding in most areas from Thursday afternoon to the early hours of Friday morning, claiming one life.
A body of a woman was found in Umbilo River in Pinetown, after her car was swept away during yesterday’s heavy rains. According to reports, last night rescue teams were searching for two cars that were swept off a bridge on Gordon Road. The rains wreaked havoc for most of the night, with a number of roads becoming ‘no-go areas’. Ward 33 reported flooding on some roads with businesses and homes being affected by the inclement weather.
“We have been without power for over 24 hours, which is not helping the situation,” said Ward 33 councillor Fran Kristopher. She was up early this morning inspecting the ward for damages, following numerous reports of flooded roads. “The work on the sewer line project on Helen Joseph Road and Ebor Avenue, leading up to Lena Ahrens Road, was affected. Lots of debris and sand was washed away from the project; the clean-up started this morning. At a house on Esther Roberts Road the yard was flooded due to a collapsed pavement. Sydney Road was also flooded,” added Kristopher, who was still receiving reports on damages in the Ward, with Umbilo among the areas affected.
Also Read: Inclement weather warning for eThekwini, temporary emergency line set up
According to Tasha Wells, Umbilo Businesses Association (UBA) PRO, all four lanes near the Victoria Mxenge Hospital (former King Edward Hospital) were closed due to flooding. In terms of the power outage, vandalism was suspected to be the cause of parts of the area being plunged into darkness.
“The UBA is trying to implement ‘adopt a spot’, to try and prevent substation vandalism and cable theft. For example, the businesses could help people in the area with recourses and in return they could watch and protect the area against cable theft and vandalism while we still keep pressure on the municipality to fulfil their mandate. In Struandale (Port Elizabeth) where some automotive companies are located, they have adopted the four substations in their area. What that means is that they ensure that those substations are safe and secure. So they are spending money on safety and security for those substations,” said Wells.
Meanwhile, the eThekwini Municipality has urged for caution as more rain is expected throughout the day, with the city remaining on high alert.
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