KwaZulu-Natal: Escalating Flood Crisis Amid Severe Weather Alerts

KwaZulu-Natal is facing another wave of flooding, exacerbated by heavy rains over the weekend, resulting in increased homelessness and infrastructure damage. With more than 20 fatalities over the last two months, the Weather Service has issued a level 5 warning. Authorities are urging residents to relocate from low-lying areas and seek higher ground.

KwaZulu-Natal, particularly the eThekwini region, has experienced further devastation due to heavy rains over the weekend, worsening the effects of recent floods. This has resulted in increased homelessness, disrupted traffic, and impacted businesses. In the past two months, floods in the area have claimed more than 20 lives.

The South African Weather Service has heightened its weather warning to level 5, signaling impending floods in vulnerable regions. Expected heavy rains could lead to flooding, along with excessive lightning and damaging winds, particularly affecting the western and southern parts of the province.

Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi, the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, highlighted the escalating toll of floods, stating: “We have lost more than 20 people in the last two months, and we continue to count the costs, especially the destruction of public infrastructure like roads, clinics, and homes. The cost of these floods runs into hundreds of millions…” He emphasized the lingering impacts of last year’s severe floods and ongoing efforts to support 2022 victims.

As a result of the recent floods, over 3,600 families have been relocated, and 2,224 housing units have been destroyed, with many individuals still awaiting temporary accommodations. Relief efforts are being provided by government departments, emergency services, and NGOs like Gift of the Givers and Al-Imdaad Foundation.

Authorities are urging residents to remain indoors and refrain from unnecessary travel. “We strongly urge residents in low-lying areas to move away and seek shelter on higher ground. Residents are also advised to avoid all non-essential travel. The province… has already experienced tragic loss of life due to the recent severe weather,” said Buthelezi.

The situation in KwaZulu-Natal remains dire, with flooding causing significant loss of life and damage to infrastructure. As authorities take measures to assist the victims and warn residents, the community faces ongoing challenges from extreme weather events. Continued support and caution are vital as the region grapples with these natural disasters.

Original Source: allafrica.com