Floods cause damage in Amanzimtoti and beyond [Pictures]
Some areas around Amanzimtoti were severely affected by the heavy downpours, with a structural collapse reported in KwaMakhutha.
HEAVY rain wreaked havoc in Amanzimtoti and the surrounding areas this morning (February 20), flooding many areas and causing structural damage and road accidents.
Also read: April 2022 floods – a year later
Flooding was also reported in Isipingo, Adams Mission, Umgababa, KwaMakhutha, Doon Heights, and Prospecton.
In Amanzimtoti, the river burst its banks, flooding the whole CBD and temporarily making Bjorseth Crescent and Commercial Road inaccessible. While water levels later subsided, councillor André Beetge advised people to avoid the CBD as more rain was still expected.
Beetge advised that due to the storm, several roads such as Isundu Drive, San Gabriel Avenue, and Longacres Drive, are flooded.
“Several trees are down at various locations, branches are low or broken onto the road and there are several mudslides,” said Beetge. He added that along the N2 northbound, two lanes are flooded.
In KwaMakhutha, ALS Paramedics spokesperson, Garrith Jamieson, said three people died after a house collapsed on them. At the time of publication, operations to retrieve the bodies were ongoing.
Also read: eThekwini intensifies efforts to tackle extreme weather challenges
On the N2 north near Galleria Mall, a taxi overturned after it hit a flooded patch on the road. No fatalities were reported and the injured were attended to by paramedics. Durban Metro Service urged all residents to exercise extreme caution.
MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma, put out a public statement confirming weather reports from the South African Weather Service that prolonged rainfall is likely in various parts of KZN, including eThekwini.
Spokesperson, Ndabezinhle Sibiya, requested that motorists exercise extreme caution on the roads, and emphasised that those involved in school transport must remember that they are transporting future leaders.
“They need to avoid speeding as roads are slippery when wet. A roving team from Human Settlements is on standby to ensure quick intervention if there is any destruction of houses. There are families that were affected by prolonged rainfall that started on January 1 and we are ready to hand over contractors to build temporary accommodation for these families,” said Sibiya.
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