The floods have wreaked havoc throughout KwaZulu-Natal last week. While property and municipal infrastructure can be repaired, lives that have been lost are gone forever. Residents recall how they had to search for the bodies of several people who were killed in a mudslide last Tuesday night.

The Rising Sun Chatsworth attended the site to find a landscape torn apart. The destruction that remains of what used to be a cradle of safety to families who lived in the affected properties, is shocking.

Community members were at the scene telling their versions of last Tuesday’s events. They expressed their dismay at the loss of life, which has left them reeling in fear, as an incident of this magnitude in the area, was unheard of before now.

Wenzel Ramalingam (54), believes that the mudslides were the result of the banks of another road above Bealings Road, which gave way.

 “It happened at about 02:00. The mudslide came through and took whatever was in its path. Bodies of the families were found in the homes as well as in the river and downstream. I believe that thus far, two young children, an elderly couple, a young girl, along with another elderly resident, may have been killed. The father of the young boys who were killed, as well as his fiancée, are currently in ICU. They just moved in a few months ago,” says Ramalingam.

Ramalingam was part of a rescue team assembled by residents. They say the scene that met them were unimaginable.

 “We have not seen anything like this before. We had to wait until dawn broke to examine the extent of the damage and to ensure the safety of rescuers trying to assist. Wading through the mud and water was worse than walking on the beach as every step sucked you in. It was very sad clearing the bodies, it broke everyone. They found the bodies still wrapped in their blankets as they were asleep at the time,” recalls Ramalingam.

Liam Andrews (19) explains that the mudslide sounded just like thunder. He thought it was the continuing storm, before learning of the tragedy.

 “Medics had trouble accessing the site as most of the road was, and still is, covered in mud and land from the mudslides. Homeowners were stranded as debris took over the roadway on either side of their properties.

“The paramedics walked and catered to the survivors. There were eight or nine fatalities. The last two bodies were found at the shooting range about 200 metres downstream,” says Andrews.

He claims that he often saw two of the victims, teenage boys, walking to and from the local shops, where they bought goods for their wheelchair-bound grandmother. He believes that she also died in the incident.

Two of the victims were identified as siblings Layton Engels and Joshua Lodder. The school they attended, Northdene Preparatory School, has paid tribute to them on Facebook.

The school is also in the process of gathering financial donations for the grief-stricken family.