South Africa: Heavy rain, flooding leave 51 dead in Durban area April 22-23 /update 2

Event

At least 51 people were killed following heavy rain and consequent flooding that hit the Durban (KwaZulu-Natal province) area overnight (local time) from Monday, April 22, into Tuesday, April 23. Several buildings collapsed and roads flooded, leading to road closures and associated traffic disruptions. Power outages were also reported in several areas as power lines were damaged. The South African Weather Services warned that more heavy rain and gale force winds were expected on Wednesday, April 24, which could further threaten low-lying bridges and roads. Transportation disruptions and power outages are expected in the Durban Metro area over the coming hours.

Advice

Individuals present in the affected areas are advised to monitor local weather reports and adhere to any instructions issued by the local authorities. Remember that driving or walking through running water can be dangerous - 15 cm (6 in) of running water is enough to knock over an adult - and that floodwater may contain wastewater or chemical products; all items having come into contact with the water should be disinfected and all foodstuffs discarded.