The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Disaster Management Center has received reports of extensive damage caused by heavy rains in two districts, Ilembe and uMgungundlovu, resulting in one confirmed fatality in Mandeni and three people reported missing after their vehicle was swept away in the Msunduzi River in Pietermaritzburg.
In Mandeni, a brief but intense rainstorm lasting about 15 minutes led to devastation to homes and infrastructure. Our response teams have confirmed the tragic loss of a 7-year-old boy, who drowned and was subsequently recovered by the Search and Rescue team. Additionally, numerous houses and road infrastructure sustained damage. Our disaster assessment teams are currently on-site, working to establish the full extent of the destruction and assess the number of affected people.
In Pietermaritzburg, the uMsunduzi Emergency Control responded to an incident involving a vehicle with three occupants that was swept away in the Msunduzi River above Henley Dam following heavy rains around 15h00 on Sunday. The floods had caused damage to the bridge, resulting in the car being washed away.
Search and Rescue teams working with IPSS Medical Rescue, the Search and Rescue Team have launched an operation to discover the three missing people.
KZN MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Bongiwe Sithole-Moloi, extends heartfelt condolences to the family that lost their young boy in Mandeni. She has called for a comprehensive assessment of the extent of damages and appeals to families to promptly report missing loved ones in the aftermath of heavy rains.
“It is indeed regrettable that we begin the year on a sombre note, having lost another life due to inclement weather. We call for cooperation between the government and our communities to remain vigilant during such disruptive weather events.
We also urge community leaders, including Izinduna and Councillors, to assist us to disseminate information about the risks posed by these heavy rains to our communities. We must adhere to safety warnings to minimise the impact of these rainstorms.
Our disaster response teams have already initiated relief efforts for affected families, and we will continue to assess and coordinate with relevant departments to provide assistance to those in need during this challenging period,” said MEC Sithole-Moloi.
With more rain expected on New Year’s Day, our disaster response teams will remain on high alert. We will provide further updates on the extent of damages once we consolidate all the statistics.
