DURBAN: The death toll from floods and mudslides after rainstorms struck the South African port city of Durban and surrounding areas in KwaZulu-Natal province has climbed to 59, authorities said.
The country s meteorologists forecasted more “disruptive” rains on the way Tuesday night but expected the “rainfall system” to weaken “considerably” on Wednesday.
“Many people lost their lives with Ethekwini (Durban metro) alone reporting 45,” while in iLembe district “more than 14 …have tragically lost their lives,” the provincial government said in a statement.
It said the disaster “wreaked untold havoc and unleashed massive damage to lives and infrastructure” affecting all races and classes from rural areas, townships to luxury estates.
“This is a tragic toll of the force of nature and this situation calls for an effective response by government,” said President Cyril Ramaphosa who is to visit Durban on Wednesday.
African Union Commission chief Moussa Faki Mahamat expressed “sincere condolences to the families who have lost loved ones following heavy flooding” via Twitter.
Days of driving rain flooded several areas, tore houses apart and ravaged infrastructure across the southeastern city, while landslides forced train services to be suspended.
The rains have flooded city highways to such depths that only the tops of traffic lights poked out, resembling submarine periscopes.
Torrents tore several bridges apart, submerged cars and collapsed houses. A fuel tank was floating in at sea after being tossed off the road.
The rains have flooded city highways, torn apart bridges, submerged cars and collapsed houses.
Several stacked shipping containers fell like dominoes and lay strewn on a yard, while some spilled over into a main road in the city, one of southern Africa s largest regional gateways to the sea.
South Africa s public logistics firm Transnet suspended shipping at Durban terminals as did global shipping firm Maersk due to the floods.
“At around 3:00 am (0100 GMT), I felt the truck shaking and I thought maybe someone bumped it and when I tried to open the curtain I saw the water level… was very high,” said truck driver Mthunzi Ngcobo.
