Death toll rises to 6 in eThekwini following heavy rains

DURBAN - Heavy rains in KwaZulu-Natal have claimed six lives. 

The Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) Department in the province confirmed the deaths in Durban, while another person died in Eshowe, north of the province on Wednesday.

“Tragically since last [Wednesday] night six people have died due to the heavy floods in Durban, in areas around kwaMakhutha where two members of the families the house collapsed while they were sleeping inside, and Umlazi three people died because of the mudslides and in Eshowe a young child was swept away while trying to cross a river,” said KZN COGTA MEC, Thulasizwe Buthelezi.

Buthelezi has called on residents in the province to be on high alert as severe rains are still expected.  

“We want to express our condolences to the families, but also to call up on citizens of KwaZulu-Natal to be vigilant and high alert.”