© eThekwini Municipality
Heavy rain and flood damage in Umdloti, KZN, South Africa, May 2022.
Heavy rain and flood damage in Umdloti, KZN, South Africa, May 2022.
KwaZulu-Natal Prime Minister Sihle Zikalala said at a press conference, "Overnight on 21 and 22 May 2022, the province yet again underwent some of the worst storms that have been accompanied by floods resulting in destruction that comes with such situations.
"These heavy rainfalls have resulted into flooding of roads, human settlements, and damage properties. We understand that some areas are inaccessible and have become islands at this stage."
Around 240 mm of rain fell in Mount Edgecombe in 24 hours to 22 May 2022. The city of Durban saw 202 mm during this time and Sezela 151 mm.
The worst of the damage this time around was in areas of eThekwini Municipality. Officials said around 200 people were evacuated from homes in Bluff, Umdloti and Westbrook. eThekwini Municipality reported damage to a water treatment plant at Umdloti and various roads across the municipality. Over 80 centres were set up to accommodate displaced people.
Other parts of the province were also affected according to the provincial government, including areas of Ilembe, where a number of household have been left homeless and road network infrastructure damaged and South Uthungulu district where damage to homes prompted several evacuations.
The South African Weather Service has warned of further severe weather over the coming days for areas further north.
