Pietermaritzburg – The Disaster Management Teams will continue to monitor the rainy weather conditions across the province as more rain is expected until Wednesday, particularly in the northern part of the province.
This follows after the South African Weather Services issued a level 6 alert for King Cetshwayo and Umkhanyakude District Municipalities, while other municipalities in the eastern parts of the province are on a level 2 alert. These persistent rains may lead to road, bridge, and settlement (both formal and informal) flooding, as well as disruptions to essential services such as water, electricity, and communication.
Having closely monitored the rains since Monday, our disaster management teams have not reported any major or serious incidents at this stage. The only impact has been on traffic flow, particularly in the eThekwini Metro, where some roads had to be temporarily closed due to flooding. The team will continue assessing the situation in the coastal district where the rain has been pouring since Monday.
As the rains continue, residents are advised to avoid crossing rivers and swollen streams where the water level is above ankle height. The disaster management teams and the joint operation cluster will remain on high alert to monitor the situation across the province.
Residents are urged to adhere to the instructions issued by the municipalities and law enforcement agencies regarding road closures due to flooding. All municipalities that are likely to be affected have taken precautionary measures, including preparing evacuation plans, such as public buildings as safe havens in case some people need to be evacuated.
Residents in low-lying areas are advised to move valuables to a safe place above the expected flood level. We also appeal to all residents to postpone non-essential travelling as some roads are flooded during this period.
Ends.