South Africa – Storm Leaves 8 Dead, Record Rain in Durban

by in Africa, News · 1 Comment

Severe weather including strong winds, hail and heavy rain, have left at least 8 people dead and caused severe damage in KwaZulu-Natal province in South Africa over the last 2 days.

Two people were reported killed in the storm in Nquthu and six casualties have been reported in the Durban area.

South Africa Weather Service reports said that torrential rain fell in Durban on 11 October. As much as 108 mm fell in 24 hours, breaking the previous record high of 105mm set in October, 1985.

Elsewhere, 144 mm of rain fell in Paddock, Kwazuzlu-Natal in 24 hours to Monday 10 October. The next day Mount Edgecombe recorded 69 mm of rain, Pennington South 68 mm and Paddock a further 81 mm.

Dozens of buildings were damaged and local authorities say that at least 500 people have been displaced across the province. Many of the displaced communities have been temporarily accommodated in community halls and buildings.

KwaZulu-Natal Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) said, “Disaster teams have been working throughout the night. We had to assist people in evacuating them to safety.”

Some of the worst affected areas include the Bluff, Jacobs, Montclair, Glenwood, Umlazi, Merebank and Isipingo, according to local media.

In Durban, drivers were left stranded as several roads were flooded. Some areas were under as much as 1.5 metres of water. One of the worst hit was the N2 which was flooded after a nearby river broke its banks.

Flooded roads in Durban, October 2017. Photo: KwaZulu-Natal province EMS

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