Heavy rains in KZN leave trail of destruction

Heavy rains have left a trail of destruction in KwaZulu-Natal as Disaster Management teams worked throughout the night responding to various incidents.

Late on Monday, the Co-operative Governance Department had counted two fatalities from two separate incidents in KwaMashu and Umlazi where homes had collapsed on people.

Persistent rains rendered roads unusable and closed several roads that have been waterlogged or covered in mudslides.

In the eThekwini municipality, several community halls were converted into shelters for people whose homes were washed away.

Emergency officials reported that several cars were swept away. Damage to businesses and homes is believed to be widespread from uMdloti and Stanger to Amanzimtoti.

Several schools and creches are also believed to have been affected prompting a call from the provincial education department for parents to be cautious when sending their children to school.

DISCUSSION: Climate change fuelling heavier rainfall:

National roads in the province have also not been spared as heavy downpours wreck havoc in KZN.

Parts of both N3 and N2 have been affected with several road closures.

South African National Roads Agency’s (Sanral) Nomsa Modise says their teams are on the ground to assess the extent of the damage. She has urged motorists to delay their travel.

Modise says, “We advise motorists that the state of the national road network has been affected greatly in KZN the N2 south towards Toti area has been affected the N2 north around Nandi Drive and up north and we’ve also realised some sinkholes that have come up on N3 around Marianhill. The technical teams are on the ground trying to work their way through to try and facilitate lane closures and the availability of lanes for motorists to be able to pass. We need people to consider delaying travel.”

 Two killed in heavy rains in KwaMashu and Umlazi in KZN:

#sabcnews #sabckzn Persistent rains continue to cause havoc in KZN. Parts of N2 and N3 are affected, Sanral is assessing damage. In Dbn community halls have been opened as shelters. pic.twitter.com/wVUILuT3W4

— Nonkululeko Hlophe (@Leko3) April 12, 2022