At least 32 people have died after floods and mudslides tore through homes in the city of Durban in South Africa.
The country has been lashed by heavy rains in recent days and authorities have warned residents in KwaZulu-Natal province to remain on alert and seek higher ground.
Provincial minister Nomusa Dube-Ncube said 32 people were killed and at least 42 injured in the heavy rains.
She said at least 10 children are missing in Durban alone.
News: MEC Dube-Ncube has expressed her condolences to the families of the 23 lives that have been lost due to heavy rains across the province. She has urged residents to exercise extreme caution especially as roads continue to be flooded across many areas. #kznfloods
— KZNCOGTA (@kzncogta) April 23, 2019
Authorities said some 235 homes have been damaged with dozens of properties flooded and reports of walls collapsing.
At least 145 people have been displaced – with the Government pledging to provide temporary shelter to anyone affected, “as close to their homes as possible.”
“We are also calling on residents of low-lying areas to move to higher ground without delay,” said Ms Dube-Ncube.
“Motorists and pedestrians are urged to exercise utmost caution on the roads that are already flooded or where there is high risk of flash flooding.”
MEC Dube-Ncube together with the Minister Mkhize paid a visit to emergency rescue crews in Marianhill who are recovering a body of a female that was washed away during the heavy rains. They then proceeded to the Ethekwini DMC where all the rescue, recovery is coordinated pic.twitter.com/Wn5EHT7EO6
— KZNCOGTA (@kzncogta) April 23, 2019
She said disaster management teams are working around the clock to attend all reported incidents.
“Where help is needed, it is already on its way or will be very soon,” she said.
“We are overwhelmed but our presence throughout KwaZulu-Natal ensures that we will be able to assist everywhere we are called.”
