AMID economic hardship, an ongoing water crisis and intermittent bouts of load shedding, residents from Amanzimtoti and surrounding areas along the South Coast are once again having to battle with the aftermath of severe rainfall last night, February 25.

Also read: Businesses take stock of the flood devastation

The dreadful conditions have caused widespread flooding and disaster management teams have surged across KZN to assist.

In a statement issued this morning by the KZN Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, authorities have confirmed numerous emergency calls from residents affected by the rising floodwaters. The South African Police Service (SAPS), Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and other emergency services have been activated to support the ongoing relief efforts.

The KZN Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC, Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi, reassured residents, “Our priority is the safety and wellbeing of our residents. We are working tirelessly to assist those affected by the floods and to lessen further damage.”

Ward 97 councillor, André Beetge, echoed the community’s sentiments, saying it was yet another night of little to no sleep for many.

“Our thoughts are with those who had to evacuate after houses collapsed or were flooded with mud and / or water. Several roads are undermined by the flooding water and debris across several streets,” said Beetge.

Also read: Floods cause damage in Amanzimtoti and beyond [Pictures]

He said that there are water challenges around Umdoni Road with a burst pipe near the train bridge, a burst pipe on the corner of Cato and Len Nickol, and one in Doonside along Umfuleni Road where the embankement supporting the water pipes washed away.

Additionally, trees and debris have affected Umdoni Road, while there have been mudslides along Fynn Road and several other streets including the N2 south towards Durban.

“At midday on Tuesday, the backlog was already 600 open references for the south from the weekend, which after last night’s disaster, will now be much more. The electricity department starts their day at 07:00 and it’s totally impossible to predict when technicians will be able to restore power to everyone. Keep fridges and freezers closed to preserve the contents. Schools are closed at their own discretion, so please monitor DC6 for school-specific information. Keep social media and community communication platforms open for emergency information,” said Beetge.

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