Emergency services respond to Mariannhill mudslide
The eThekwini Municipality says no fatalities, injuries, or entrapments were reported from the Tshelimnyama area in Mariannhill.
ON Friday morning (September 18), eThekwini Fire and Emergency Services responded to an incident in Ward 15, Tshelimnyama, in Mariannhill, near Pinetown, where localised mudslides caused approximately three houses to collapse.
This followed heavy downpours that began on Thursday (September 17) across the City, keeping the eThekwini Municipality’s Disaster Management and Emergency Services Directorates on high alert.
Municipality spokesperson Senzelwe Mzila said at Tshelimnyama, emergency responders immediately secured and cleared the affected site.
Mzila said the municipality can confirm that no fatalities, injuries, or entrapments were reported during the incident, with 14 residents affected thus far.
“To mitigate wider flooding risks across vulnerable areas, Disaster Management teams, in co-ordination with municipal technical units, have opened the Isipingo Estuary mouth to relieve water build-up and reduce risk to surrounding communities.
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“Municipal Disaster Management teams are on the ground conducting detailed assessments and co-ordinating immediate humanitarian and relief support for the affected families.
“Members of the public are urged to remain cautious as saturated ground conditions heighten the risk of further mudslides and localised flooding.
“Motorists are advised to keep headlights on, reduce speed, and strictly avoid driving across flooded roads or low-lying bridges.
“Emergency situations and storm-related infrastructure damage can be reported to the Municipality’s Central Disaster Call Centre on 031 361 0000,” said Mzila.
Update:
The KZN Department of Transport and Human Settlements confirmed that three cars and five-bedroom house in Ward 15, Intshelimnyama in Marrianhill were swept away in a mudslide triggered by a cut-off-low pressure system. The Mdletshe family lost a house and the Khwela family lost three cars.
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