Death toll from eThekwini floods at 6

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The eThekwini Municipality says that the death toll from heavy rains that started on Friday has risen to six.

In the same period eleven people have died in around the province of KwaZulu-Natal because of flash floods.

Search and rescue teams remain on the ground searching for the two people who went missing in oThongathi North of Durban after their shack was washed away.

CoGTA provincial spokesperson Siboniso Mngandi says, “The number of people that have unfortunately passed away due to the heavy rains that battered different areas has risen to six people. All these six fatalities were confirmed under eThekwini Metro. The MEC for KZN CoGTA Sithole Moloi has directed all affected municipalities to do thorough assessments to establish the costs and the extent of the damage which were caused by these heavy rains. During the course of the day, eThekwini Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda and his exco members will be visiting some of the affected areas and families.”

Umhlanga in the North Coast was also heavily hit by flooding.

Meanwhile, severe thunderstorms are predicted for the rest of today and tomorrow, accompanied by hail, with lightning that could persist in some areas in the northern parts of the province.

Weather forecaster Ayanda Nsele elaborates, “We also have a tier level two for thunderstorms accompanied by heavy down pours over the extreme northern parts of the province for today as well as tomorrow. But tomorrow will cover a slightly larger area. Those thunderstorms are expected to be accompanied by hail and severe lightning that could result in injuries.”