South Africa, which has been hit by unprecedented deadly floods over the past month, is being hit again by severe weather that has already displaced around 500 people on the east coast, authorities said on Sunday.
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No casualties have been reported so far, but significant destruction has already been observed, mainly in the greater Durban area, the capital of the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) province.
“As the information reaches us, a worrying picture is emerging,” KZN Chief Minister Sihle Zikalala said at a press conference.
Torrential rains killed almost 450 people in late April in floods and landslides. Survivors had been left without access to drinking water for ten days. After massive destruction estimated at several hundred million euros, repairs were still in progress.
These new floods again affected infrastructure, roads, bridges and damaged buildings. “Some areas have become inaccessible and have become islands,” Zikalala said.
The National Institute for Meteorology had raised the alarm level to the highest level the day before. The population was asked to stay at home.
About 82 reception centers have been opened. Several villages for the elderly have already been evacuated.
Police, fire brigade and rescue services are mobilized. The army was called in as reinforcements.
The metropolitan area of Durban has 3.9 million inhabitants. The port, open to the Indian Ocean, is one of the most important sea terminals in Africa.
According to forecasts, it should rain until Monday. South Africa is usually spared the storms that regularly hit its neighbors such as Mozambique and Madagascar.