Extreme weather wreaks havoc in KwaZulu-Natal’s Inanda and KwaMashu, prompting urgent calls for assistance
28 June 2023 - 08:27
byMfundo Mkhize
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A man drains water at Dube Village Mall, which flooded after heavy rains in Inanda, north of Durban. Picture: SANDILE NDLOVU
Heavy rains pummeled Phoenix, Inanda and parts of KwaMashu in Durban on Tuesday, leaving several people injured and homes and buildings damaged.
The SA Weather Service (SAWS) issued a level 2 warning for disruptive rain and thundershowers, which lashed the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal and eThekwini, leading to flooding.
Firefighters hard at work following the heavy downpour at Inanda, Durban. Picture: SANDILE NDLOVU
According to the warning, there are indications of up to 50mm of rain in the Ugu and eThekwini district municipalities.
In Inanda, residents were left horrified when a tornado swept through the area, tearing off corrugated roofs, wooden gates and fences.
The flying debris swirled in the air, causing damage and panic among residents who tried to get out of harm’s way.
When TimesLIVE visited the area on Tuesday, some residents said they were devastated and heartbroken by the damage.
Pieces of a corrugated iron roof hang on the electricity street pole in Inanda, north of Durban, following heavy downpours. Picture: SANDILE NDLOVU
The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal said it had asked MEC for co-operative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta) Bongi Sithole-Moloi, MEC for human settlements and public works Sipho Nkosi and eThekwini mayor Mxolisi Kaunda to respond with a “high sense of urgency and assist the affected families”.
“The ravaging tornado brings home the fact that extreme weather patterns continue to have devastating effects on KwaZulu-Natal and Durban in particular.”
A man covers himself with a plastic sheet during heavy rain in Inanda, north of Durban. Picture: SANDILE NDLOVU
The ANC said the disaster came hours after the Alliance Political Council (APC) pledged to mobilise all structures to assist communities during times of distress.
A woman covers herself with a plastic sheet during heavy rain in Inanda, north of Durban, in the aftermath of a tornado. Picture: SANDILE NDLOVU
The provincial department of co-operative governance and traditional affairs said it was working on gathering information together with eThekwini municipality and the human settlements department.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Tornado ravages Durban amid heavy rainfall
Extreme weather wreaks havoc in KwaZulu-Natal’s Inanda and KwaMashu, prompting urgent calls for assistance
Heavy rains pummeled Phoenix, Inanda and parts of KwaMashu in Durban on Tuesday, leaving several people injured and homes and buildings damaged.
The SA Weather Service (SAWS) issued a level 2 warning for disruptive rain and thundershowers, which lashed the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal and eThekwini, leading to flooding.
According to the warning, there are indications of up to 50mm of rain in the Ugu and eThekwini district municipalities.
In Inanda, residents were left horrified when a tornado swept through the area, tearing off corrugated roofs, wooden gates and fences.
The flying debris swirled in the air, causing damage and panic among residents who tried to get out of harm’s way.
When TimesLIVE visited the area on Tuesday, some residents said they were devastated and heartbroken by the damage.
The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal said it had asked MEC for co-operative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta) Bongi Sithole-Moloi, MEC for human settlements and public works Sipho Nkosi and eThekwini mayor Mxolisi Kaunda to respond with a “high sense of urgency and assist the affected families”.
“The ravaging tornado brings home the fact that extreme weather patterns continue to have devastating effects on KwaZulu-Natal and Durban in particular.”
The ANC said the disaster came hours after the Alliance Political Council (APC) pledged to mobilise all structures to assist communities during times of distress.
The provincial department of co-operative governance and traditional affairs said it was working on gathering information together with eThekwini municipality and the human settlements department.
TimesLIVE
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