Serious Damage to Property on KZN South Coast

Flood Damages Property in KZN

An article published in BuaNews has drawn attention to the devastation caused by recent floods in the KwaZulu Natal South Coast area. The report indicates that provincial MECs are set to visit the area on Thursday to gain firsthand information about the damage caused to businesses and homes.

On Tuesday, the Ugu District on the KwaZulu Natal South Coast experienced torrential rains, which caused the Umtamvuna River to burst its banks and flood houses and businesses in the surrounding area, leaving serious damage to property. 6 people died in the floods and there were cars washed away with people still inside.

There were at least 10 people who had to be rescued from rooftops and taken to higher ground, with more than 200 people given shelter in local community halls. The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) sent out more than 500 volunteers to help evacuate people whose houses had been flooded.

According to the departmental spokesperson for the Provincial Local Government Lennox Mabaso, “We are still trying to accommodate all those that have been affected and lost their homes”. The assessment of damage will be conducted once rescue operations have been completed.

The Durban Weather Bureau predicts no heavy rains in the South Coast area for the rest of the week, although there may be some light drizzle. The Durban Metropolitan Police have urged motorists traveling towards the South Coast area to exercise extreme caution, as the majority of roads and low water bridges have been flooded.

Most businesses in the South Coast area are to remain closed until mop up operations have been carried out. Following an aircraft skidding off the runway, the Durban International Airport was closed but has since been reopened. According to a spokesperson from the Airport Company South Africa (ACSA), Colin Naidoo, “We worked until late yesterday trying to accommodate all delayed passengers and currently all flights are on schedule”. He added that no passengers were injured during the incident.

The information in this article is courtesy of Edwin Tshividzo (“South Africa: MECs to Visit Flood-Hit Kwazulu Natal South Coast”, BuaNews, 19 June 2008).

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