Flooding in KZN claims 5 lives; more heavy rain expected in EC, WC
The fatalities were recorded on Monday in eThekwini, where roads have been flooded.
An image of rainfall. Picture: Pexels
JOHANNESBURG - Five people have died in KwaZulu-Natal as heavy rains continue in some parts of the country.
The fatalities were recorded on Monday in eThekwini where roads have been flooded.
Houses were severely damaged in other parts of the province, including in Newcastle, Dannhauser and Nquthu.
There is no electricity in many areas because power lines have also been damaged.
The KZN Cooperative Governance Department said that it would provide temporary shelter to victims.
Meanwhile, Nelson Mandela Bay is still dealing with the extreme conditions, which claimed five lives in the metro.
Mayor Gary van Niekerk said that they would continue to relocate people living in high-risk areas.
"There's more heavy rains predicted for tomorrow. In some areas, it's as much as 100[mm], so we're expecting 50 to 100mm of rain."
The provincial transport department on Monday also reported that 10 people died from four separate vehicle crashes in different parts of the Eastern Cape since the storms started at the weekend.
In the Western Cape, Cape Town residents have also been warned to be cautious as heavy rain is expected in the city and other parts of the province from Tuesday.
The city's disaster risk management spokesperson, Sonica Lategan: "We advise the public to please take heed of the warnings and to help reduce the potential risk to their properties by clearing out drainage systems, raising the floor level of their structures, digging trenches around the house to divert water away and to check that their gutters are clear and that all dead tree branches and any other items that could potentially cause obstructions are cleared."
The SA Weather Service said that the cold, combined with strong winds, snowfall and heavy rains would continue this week.
The extreme weather conditions have claimed five lives in KwaZulu- Natal, and at least seven in the Eastern Cape.
A tornado wreaked havoc in Tongaat, north of Durban, uprooting trees, and toppling roofs from people's homes.
Places that are feeling the brunt are the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, some parts of Gauteng and the Western Cape.
Forcaster Lehlogonolo Thobela: "We have a warning for damaging winds that's expected over the central parts of KwaZulu-Natal, as well as the extreme north-eastern parts of the Free State province."