At least 51 dead in South Africa floods and mudslides

Wednesday, April 24, 2019

51 people are reported dead due to the flooding and mudslides in the South Africa’s eastern KwaZulu-Natal province as per The KwaZulu-Natal Cooperative Governance department. Five people remain unaccounted for. The South Africa floods has been caused by heavy rains that began on Monday. The number is expected to rise.

Hundreds of homes in the Indian Ocean coastal city of Durban alone have been damaged. Some people are wary of leaving their homes as waters rise fearing that they will be looted.

According to Cogta, over 2 000 emergency calls were logged on Monday night. The rescue operations continued throughout Tuesday night. More bodies were discovered under the rubble.

The KZN provincial government tweeted: “We appeal to all citizens of KZN to open their hearts & dig deep into their pockets & join @KZNGOV in assisting those affected by the devastating storms. Many have lost their lives, homes & belongings. They need our help & they need it now!”

According to the city, emergency services were under ‘massive pressure attending to flood-related life-threatening emergencies’. Throngs of neighbours and community members joined the rescue workers in offering their assistance to cope with the South Africa floods.

The flooded and unsafe roads are: Higgins Highway /M1 at Bayview turn off westbound; the M4 Opposite Inkosi Albert Luthuli joining the N2 by the old; airport; N2 Galleria; N2 Prospecton; Bul-Bul Road Chatsworth Bridge had collapsed; Clairwood Sirdar road was also flooded, as were Sarnia road – opposite Bellair SAPS, Mangosuthu Highway in the vicinity of Megacity, Somtseu and Stanger roads and the M25 between Das Road. Stapletn Road and the M19 before the N2 off-ramp were closed.

Zandile Gumede, city mayor said: “I urge residents not to enter fast flowing streams, both in cars and as pedestrians. Many of our roads are flooded and some of the structures have been damaged. If possible, I would like to advise members of the public to stay off the roads at this stage,” said Gumede.

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