Severe Flooding and Landslides Wreak Havoc in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

KwaZulu-Natal, a province in South Africa, has been hit by devastating floods and landslides following heavy rainfall. The destruction has caused immense damage in parts of northern Durban and along the north coast.

As of Sunday morning, four individuals were reported missing, while emergency services responded to 157 calls for assistance, primarily in the Verulam, Phoenix, and Tongaat areas in northern Durban.

Samantha Meyrick, a spokesperson from IPSS Medical Search and Rescue, disclosed that they were actively searching for four individuals who were reported missing.

The torrential rains led to flash floods and caused rivers to overflow, impacting numerous communities along the KZN North Coast. President Samia Suluhu Hassan expressed her condolences, emphasising that those affected were small-scale miners striving to provide for themselves and their families.

Initially informed of 19 to 20 people trapped in the mines, authorities later confirmed the recovery of 22 bodies. Faustine Mtitu, acting commander for the region’s fire and rescue forces, has expressed confidence that there are no more victims trapped in the rubble.

This disaster has intensified calls for the government to declare a state of disaster across KwaZulu-Natal. Reports indicate that five people lost their lives in the eThekwini municipality, and two individuals remain missing, presumably swept away by the floodwaters.

The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs has reported extensive damage in the municipalities of eThekwini, KwaDukuza, and Ndwedwe due to the severe storm system. The aftermath of the storm includes flooded houses, damaged roads, landslides, and vehicles washed away.

Numerous areas, including KwaDukuza, Verulam, Tongaat, Phoenix, uMhlanga, uMdloti, and parts of Durban South, were severely affected. Residents in flood-prone areas were evacuated as homes and roads became inundated. In addition, electrical infrastructure damage left many areas without power.

Several roads, bridges, and intersections, such as Ridge Road, the M4, M41, and multiple roads in uMhlanga, remained closed due to sinkholes and portions of roads being washed away.

The devastation also extends to private properties, with one resident in La Lucia expressing shock over the damage to a property where they had recently spent approximately R4 million on renovations.

Ward councillors reported the evacuation of numerous homes and substantial damage to infrastructure. Tragically, a mother and her four-year-old child lost their lives when their house collapsed during the storm.

The surprise storm and the extent of heavy rainfall have taken residents by surprise, with claims that neither the South African Weather Services nor eThekwini’s disaster management services issued storm and flood warnings.

Efforts are underway to deliver relief aid, including blankets, mattresses, and personal hygiene amenities, to affected households. The municipality has dispatched water tanks to impacted areas, and work teams are clearing debris from roads, including fallen trees.

Security service Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa) received 175 calls for assistance from residents in northern Durban and surrounding areas. They conducted search and rescue missions with helicopters to assist stranded and missing flood victims.

The flooding and landslides in KwaZulu-Natal serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need for disaster preparedness and infrastructure improvements to mitigate the impact of extreme weather events in the region.