WeeklySA_AdminDAMAGE: Scores evacuated in Botswana as well as in KwaZulu-Natal’s hard-hit south coast areas…
By WSAM Reporters
The death toll from this week’s heavy rains in South Africa and Botswana stood at 14 today as the SA Weather Service issued a Level Warning of further disruptive storms.
The SA Weather Service, shortly after announcing the warning, indicated that areas affected by the heavy rainfall were provinces included Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, the North West, and the Free State. Localised flooding has been reported in several low-lying areas, with storms also causing power disruptions.
KwaZulu-Natal province was particularly hit by heavy rainfall and mudslides, with the most-affected areas largely in the south of the Durban metro.
In Botswana, the death toll from the flooding in Botswana rose to seven, with reports from that country revealing that, among the deaths recorded so far, were three children.
The total number of people evacuated had risen to 1 651 by this afternoon. In addition, Boko highlighted that of the 2994 people affected, 705 are children.
Botswana has been experiencing heavy rains in recent days, causing widespread flash flooding across most of the country.
Several parts of the province experienced severe storms in recent days, resulting in infrastructure collapses, mudslides and flooded roads.
A spokesperson of the provincial department of cooperative governance and traditional affairs, Senzwelwe Mzila, said disaster management teams have been dispatched to several towns in the province.
“Disaster management teams have been deployed by MEC Buthelezi to commence with more operations at several towns including Durban Ladysmith and Newcastle. They all have been experiencing flooding affecting roads and infrastructure.
The affected communities are receiving support from government,” he told SABC News, adding 25 families had lost their homes due to heavy rainfall which caused widespread flooding and landslides in the province.
Meanwhile devastating flash floods wreaked havoc in Botswana’s capital, Gaborone, as torrential rains continue to pound in the neighboring country this week, according to a Channel Africa report.
Three people, two primary school children and a pensioner from the hard hit village of Tlokweng in the southeastern outskirts of Gaborone, have been confirmed dead, according to authorities.
The incessant rains have been pounding since Sunday and experts have blamed poor drainage system to flash flooding, saying the emerging diamond city of Gaborone needed to improve its infrastructure. Addressing Botswana Parliament yesterday afternoon, Botswana’s Minister of Basic Education and Child Welfare Nono Kgafela Mokoka ordered the temporary closure of schools from today until further notice.
“Schools have been provisionally closed until further notice. The Ministry of Basic Education and Child Welfare has taken this decision to avoid more casualties”.
Meanwhile, hndreds of buildings, homes and vehicles have been damaged by a tornado in Montana, in the north of Pretoria, on Tuesday night, reports Eye Witness News (EWN).
Emergency services said roofs were blown off and trees uprooted when the storm ripped through the area on Tuesday night. This comes amid a level 5 warning for disruptive rains by the South African Weather Service (SAWS). Tshwane EMS spokesperson, Lindsay Mnguni, said that people were evacuated after their homes were flooded.
“The residents had to be evacuated and sheltered temporarily in the neighbouring units, and our disaster management officials are on scene doing an assessment of the damage and how they can further assist the affected families.”
With the downpours expected to persist throughout the week, Mnguni urged residents to be cautious.
“The emergency services department will continue to monitor the weather reports and remain on high alert for any related emergencies. Residents are equally and strongly urged and encouraged to stay informed and to monitor short-term weather forecasts and any warnings or alerts issued by the South African Weather Service and other credible sources, and to immediately follow the recommended safety tips.”
