Six dead, 167 impacted in eThekwini is disaster. Image: Arrive Alive.
(The Post News)– On Wednesday, 19 February, a heavy rainfall triggered a landslide in Adams Mission, within KwaMakhutha, a peri-urban area south of Durban. The landslide, which caused two streets to collapse, resulted in three fatalities. While three children escaped from a building during the incident, their parents were trapped and died. Moreover, a man who was also trapped died as well. The bodies of all the deceased were discovered on Thursday morning.
More fatalities were reported in Folweni, Demat, and Ensimbini, and among these fatalities were two 13-year-olds and a 12-year-old. Gugu Sisilana, City spokesperson, has confirmed that the City’s Disaster Management teams and emergency services have responded to several incidents since Wednesday. The city also announced that seven beaches would be temporarily closed as a result of muddy water and pollution from flooded estuaries.
The eThekwini Municipality said in a statement issued by Arrive Alive that they must internalise the fact that localised mudslides are increasing in frequency and severity due to prolonged rainfall caused by severe weather patterns linked to climate change. The city also acknowledges that it was heartbreaking to witness human suffering and a trail of destruction left behind by mudslides that led to the collapse of houses with people asleep inside.
On Saturday, the Mayor of eThekwini, Cllr. Cyril Xaba, was accompanied by Exco Members, local councillors, and religious leaders to spend time and comfort families in KwaMakhutha, Adams Mission, and Folweni. In various parts of eThekwini, a total of 167 people have been affected, which includes 98 adults and 68 children. The Department of Transport is yet to deploy graders and TLBs to help families and repair damaged roads. Moreover, the Department of Transport had also expressed their deepest condolences to the families who lost their loved ones.
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