[imagesource: The Witness]
KwaZulu-Natal has been the centre of one crisis after the next, and now people across large parts of the province are contending with heavy downpours, flooded streets, mudslides, and structural collapses.
This has been happening throughout Sunday and Monday and is expected to continue today, too.
While some areas have issued a “high flood alert” warning, disaster officials and law enforcement have been urging residents to evacuate if necessary, stay off the roads and at home, and not to take the water for granted.
As it stands, News24 reported that this weather disaster has killed at least two people with many more missing:
Provincial Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Sipho Hlomuka, confirmed that floods had claimed the lives of two people, one in eThekwini Metro ward 47 in KwaMashu and the other in ward 87 in uMlazi.
This is what the roads looked like in Pinetown:
Stapleton Road in Pinetown is flooded as heavy rain continues to fall in Durban.
Video: supplied. pic.twitter.com/gnE6B38DZn— Nivashni Nair (@NivashniNair) April 11, 2022
In the north of Durban, residents living in a luxury apartment building on North Beach Road in Umdloti were forced out of their homes by heavy flooding and mudslides:
The Isikulu building was completely swallowed by mud:
Residents from a block of flats in Umdloti are evacuating due to flooding.
Video: supplied pic.twitter.com/trZacKw6QQ— Nivashni Nair (@NivashniNair) April 11, 2022
TimesLIVE has more on this incident:
Umdloti Smart Village convener Brian Gibson told TimesLIVE the overflow from flooding and mudslides in Bellamont Road spread to North Beach Road.
“The village is working on finding accommodation for these residents with those that have not been affected yet. We are also trying to deal with blockages in the area,” he said.
Authorities have released a “high flood alert” warning for the area:
“The water level in the river between Mega City in Umlazi and Lamontville is rising and communities along this river are cautioned to relocate to a safer place. Rivers in Amawoti and Quarry Heights are also overflowing, and residents are advised to move to alternative accommodation,” it said.
Flooding has also been reported in Overport, Durban North, Chesterville, Shallcross, Reservoir Hills, and Westville.
Videos show flooding in other parts of the province, too:
Ma thought and prayers goes with Ndlovu family @ Mlazi U section #KZNFloods pic.twitter.com/VM9JQMTn1U
— Muzuvele (@BzFuze) April 12, 2022
Our current situation in Chatsworth right now at 2:55Am. Nobody taking chances by Sleeping. Neighbors keep calling out on each other to stay Awake. A Wild expirence to go through. #KZNFloods pic.twitter.com/274y4K5YoI
— DonJali (@Luc_Africa) April 12, 2022
Down the coast, in Amanzimtoti, the roads and stormwater teams are doing their utmost to unblock the drains to try and abate the flooding.
Infrastructure has also been struggling under the weight of the water, with electricity call centres experiencing high call volumes as power outages reign in.
