A VIOLENT storm killed eight people in Durban and Pietermaritzburg on Sunday night and destroyed scores of homes.
The extreme weather, which struck hours before the opening of the UN climate change conference in Durban, caused flooding and widespread damage.
The Sunday night deaths brought the number of people killed by floods in KwaZulu-Natal to 13 in less than two weeks.
Last week, five people died in the province due to heavy rains.
KZN cooperative governance department spokesman Mthatheni Mabaso said seven people were killed in Umlazi and Clermont townships, south and west of the city, on Sunday.
"We have been told they died when their houses collapsed. We have also been told that about 100 homes were flooded and damaged in Isipingo," he said.
According to paramedics another man, aged 44, was found under the rubble of his house in Quarry Heights, Durban, early yesterday morning.
The house collapsed on Sunday night, Netcare 911 spokesman Chris Botha said.
Homes were also flooded in Durban's affluent areas such as Umhlanga and Newlands.
"This shows that even the posh areas are not spared the effects of climate change," Mabaso said.
Co-operative governance MEC Nomusa Dube, accompanied by her disaster management team, had planned to visit some of the affected areas yesterday to assess the damage, Mabaso said.
Several people, including a one-year-old baby, were rescued from their Durban homes early yesterday after the flash floods, Botha said.
Families in four homes on Randles Road were stuck in waist-deep water.
"At around 1am, Netcare 911 paramedics, their rescue team as well as the SAPS search and rescue were called to the four houses.
"Rescue personnel assisted an elderly lady and a baby less than one year to safety.
"Both were treated for the cold and the elderly patient had to be treated for an asthma attack."
In Pietermaritzburg, several areas were also damaged by the heavy rains on Sunday.
Paulpietersburg, Eshowe, Gingindlovu and Nkandla were the most affected during last week's floods.
Three people died in Paulpietersburg, and two in the eThekwini municipality.
Up to 20000 delegates from more than 190 countries are gathered in Durban to thrash out a plan to counter global warming and the catastrophic climate change, including the extreme weather patterns it is causing in many parts of the world.
Eight die in heavy rains
A VIOLENT storm killed eight people in Durban and Pietermaritzburg on Sunday night and destroyed scores of homes.
The extreme weather, which struck hours before the opening of the UN climate change conference in Durban, caused flooding and widespread damage.
The Sunday night deaths brought the number of people killed by floods in KwaZulu-Natal to 13 in less than two weeks.
Last week, five people died in the province due to heavy rains.
KZN cooperative governance department spokesman Mthatheni Mabaso said seven people were killed in Umlazi and Clermont townships, south and west of the city, on Sunday.
"We have been told they died when their houses collapsed. We have also been told that about 100 homes were flooded and damaged in Isipingo," he said.
According to paramedics another man, aged 44, was found under the rubble of his house in Quarry Heights, Durban, early yesterday morning.
The house collapsed on Sunday night, Netcare 911 spokesman Chris Botha said.
Homes were also flooded in Durban's affluent areas such as Umhlanga and Newlands.
"This shows that even the posh areas are not spared the effects of climate change," Mabaso said.
Co-operative governance MEC Nomusa Dube, accompanied by her disaster management team, had planned to visit some of the affected areas yesterday to assess the damage, Mabaso said.
Several people, including a one-year-old baby, were rescued from their Durban homes early yesterday after the flash floods, Botha said.
Families in four homes on Randles Road were stuck in waist-deep water.
"At around 1am, Netcare 911 paramedics, their rescue team as well as the SAPS search and rescue were called to the four houses.
"Rescue personnel assisted an elderly lady and a baby less than one year to safety.
"Both were treated for the cold and the elderly patient had to be treated for an asthma attack."
In Pietermaritzburg, several areas were also damaged by the heavy rains on Sunday.
Paulpietersburg, Eshowe, Gingindlovu and Nkandla were the most affected during last week's floods.
Three people died in Paulpietersburg, and two in the eThekwini municipality.
Up to 20000 delegates from more than 190 countries are gathered in Durban to thrash out a plan to counter global warming and the catastrophic climate change, including the extreme weather patterns it is causing in many parts of the world.
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