Two Die During Heavy Rains in South Africa, Warnings of More Flooding
JOHANNESBURG – Two people have tragically died amid downpours in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa which brought down their house, just a few months after many were killed in another torrential rain. “A man and a woman died when their house collapsed,” Robert Mckenzie, media liaison officer for KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Emergency Medical Services told Reuters by phone. […]
JOHANNESBURG – Two people have tragically died amid downpours in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa which brought down their house, just a few months after many were killed in another torrential rain.
“A man and a woman died when their house collapsed,” Robert Mckenzie, media liaison officer for KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Emergency Medical Services told Reuters by phone.
The couple, in their 50s, were asleep in their home in Inanda when the house collapsed at approximately 22h00 on Monday evening.
KZN was already one of the worst hit by the heavy rains that killed over 70 people in April. At the time SAPeople followers raised over R118,000 to help Gift of the Givers give aid and support to the survivors.
Although heavy rains do sometimes fall in KZN, the death toll in April was rare. President Cyril Ramaphosa said during a visit to affected communities at the time that such events were partly down to climate change.
South Africa’s Weather Service (SAWS) warned further downpours were expected; warning Tuesday morning that “flooding- is expected in places over the Ehlanzeni District in Mpumalanga” and “expected over Mutale and Thulamela local Municipalities, as well as the Mopani District of Limpopo”.Local media showed images of flooded and damaged roads.
(Reporting by Emma Rumney, editing by Larry King)
Beauty of the storm #Durban pic.twitter.com/DvqAD75PJX
— I Love Durban (@ILuvDBN) November 10, 2019
@SAWeatherServic senior forecaster Puseletso Mofokeng gives @GwalaBnews on #SAfmTalkingPoint this weeks forecast following extreme weather conditions experienced in some parts of the country #SABCNews pic.twitter.com/o0mCLIWDBA
— SAfmRadio 📻 (@SAfmRadio) November 12, 2019
SAWS had warned of the storm:
Afternoon thunderstorms over the central interior into the north & northeast of the country. Possible strong damaging winds & small hail can be expected. On/off rain along the east coast & thunderstorms moving through in the evening in Durban & surroundings. Take care @ReenvalSA pic.twitter.com/4ygKglUffg
— SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) November 11, 2019