Disaster teams have been dispatched to flood-hit communities in Sibongile Township (Dundee), and storm-damaged areas of uMlalazi after overnight heavy rains and severe thunderstorms left homes damaged, an elderly resident injured, and a woman swept away. In Sibongile Township, localised flooding swept away a 35-year-old woman on Saturday night. Search and rescue teams are currently on the ground, while disaster officials assist affected households with clean-up efforts.
In uMlalazi, severe storms damaged homes in wards 16, 21 and 14, and in a separate incident in ward 8, an elderly person was struck by lightning and rushed to hospital. KwaZulu-Natal Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) MEC, Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi, deployed the teams following reports of heavy rainfall and storm damage across parts of the province. Buthelezi urged residents to remain alert as above-average rainfall is expected throughout spring and summer.
“Our disaster management teams are on high alert and will continue to respond swiftly to emergencies. We appeal to residents to exercise caution and report any incidents to local authorities,” he said. Communities are advised to monitor weather updates, avoid flood-prone areas and take precautions to safeguard their homes as more unsettled weather is forecast.
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