Fallen trees and damaged roads are among the incidents that have been reported after Sunday night's storm across Durban and Pietermaritzburg
Image: KZN Cogta / Facebook
Disaster response teams are mobilising across Durban and Pietermaritzburg following severe overnight rains that have caused widespread flooding, fallen trees, and significant damage to infrastructure.
The eThekwini Municipality said its Disaster Management team was “on the ground and working tirelessly following the severe rainstorm that struck the city overnight, leaving widespread flooding, fallen trees, and damaged vehicles across several areas.”
The municipality said the heavy rains resulted in “numerous roads submerged, vehicles damaged, and trees blocking key routes,” adding that teams were “immediately deployed and continue to respond to incidents, clear obstructions, and restore access in affected areas.”
The Durban Central and Southern regions were the hardest hit, with 22 incidents reported, particularly in Chatsworth and Morningside, where “flooded roads and fallen trees caused major traffic disruptions.”
Flooding was also reported in some areas in Durban.
Image: eThekwini Municipality
In the western region, 13 incidents were recorded, with Westville among the most affected, while seven incidents were reported in the northern region, including Newlands West.
Residents have been urged to “exercise extreme caution, avoid flooded roads, and report hazards such as fallen trees, damaged power lines, or blocked routes through official municipal channels.”
“Motorists are strongly advised not to attempt crossing flooded roads, as water levels may be deeper and more dangerous than they appear,” the municipality said.
Meanwhile, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs confirmed that mop-up operations had begun following storms that also affected Pietermaritzburg.
“Mop-up operations have commenced following severe storms that impacted coastal areas, including eThekwini and Pietermaritzburg,” the department said.
Electricity lines were also damaged in some areas, the KZN Cogta department said.
Image: KZN Cogta / Facebook
The department described the storms as being “characterised by gale-force winds, thunder, and hail,” which “uprooted trees, damaged power lines, and flooded major roads.”
It added that “technical assessments are currently underway in both regions to determine the full extent of the damage,” and confirmed that “no fatalities have been reported at this stage.”
Authorities said further updates would be provided once assessments are concluded.
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