The deadliest storm that has hit the Kwazulu Natal, the eastern coastal city of Durban, South Africa, has claimed nearly 400 lives. Twenty-seven are still missing.
Four days of incessant rains and flooding have destroyed 4000 houses and damaged over 13500 of them. Some residences got swept away along with people.
Many places are still inundated with water and have no electricity. Thousands still have no access to food, water, and medicines. NGOs are trying to reach freshwater to people stuck in several places, and the authorities have promised to send water tankers.
Tens of thousands of people are displaced and accommodated in temporary shelters. Religious institutions like mosques, churches, and temples have opened their gates to the homeless.
Puseletso Mofokeng, a South Africa Weather Service senior forecaster, said, “It’s already raining in some parts of KZN, but it won’t be as hectic as it was in the past few days.” However, he noted that because the soil is oversaturated with water, there could still be a lot of flooding.
The provincial government said disaster management teams are on high alert to minimize disaster impact. Troops, police, and rescue workers are operating from a small civilian airport that used to host airshows and train pilots. In addition, the administration has deployed 4000 police officers for relief efforts and to ensure law and order following reports of looting.
Meanwhile, addressing a church gathering on Good Friday, the South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, said, “(the flood) is a catastrophe of enormous proportions… not seen before in our country,” urging people to pray for the affected.
Earlier, while inspecting the worst-hit parts of Kwazulu Natal, Ramaphosa named the climate crisis the reason for the disaster. But, at the same time, some communities have pointed out poor drainage and infrastructure as reasons for worsening the damage.
The government has announced an emergency relief funding of 1bn rands. However, the disaster seems far from over, with the South African forecaster warning of thunderstorms and flooding in Kwazulu-Natal Saturday evening.
Image Source: Sunday Times