Mary Papayya
Mary Papayya
Torrential rain lashed the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast from Tuesday night until the early hours of yesterday, leaving four children dead.
Three children were swept away in a raging flood in a car while on their way to school yesterday.
Another child died after his home collapsed from the heavy downpour.
Hundreds of people are displaced after their homes were washed away.
A British Airways flight from Johannesburg to Durban also hit a wet patch while landing on the runway at the Durban International Airport.
The plane skidded, resulting in one of the wheels ending up off the runway as the plane was brought to a halt. None of the 87 passengers and six crew on board the aircraft were injured but one person was treated for shock.
The airport was briefly closed owing to poor weather. It has since reopened.
Roads were water-logged and homes in low-lying areas were washed away.
The storm ravaged households between Umkomaas and Port Edward along the province's popular Hibiscus Coast. The region experienced 200mm of rain in 13 hours. Hibiscus Coast Protection Services head Victor Chetty said search and rescue teams were still scouring the area for more victims in need of help.
"The three children, aged seven, 14 and 17, were swept away in raging flood waters while travelling in a car near Umgababa," Chetty said.
"A seven-year-old boy died after the roof of his home collapsed on him in nearby Louisiana. We have activated our Ugu district disaster management centre to help the homeless."
The car the pupils were travelling in was swept off a bridge by a strong current. Four pupils managed to swim to safety. Only one body has so far been recovered.
"Rescuers are still searching for the missing pupils," said the deputy principal of Sidelile School, Mpumelelo Thobela, where the pupils were learners. "The parents are very worried but we have not given up hope."
The National Sea Rescue Institute commander at the Pont Holiday Resort, Mick Banks, said at least 10 people were ferried to higher ground.
"Caravans and the main house on the Pont Holiday Resort grounds are under water. No one was injured."
Search and rescue teams had to pluck 20 people off rooftops at Ifafa beach. At least 600 people had to be evacuated from peri-urban and low-lying rural areas.
About 112 pensioners had to be rescued from an old age home in Amazimtoti.
In Durban hundreds of motorists were caught in traffic for nearly two hours in the eThekwini region.
heavy rains cause havoc
Mary Papayya
Mary Papayya
Torrential rain lashed the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast from Tuesday night until the early hours of yesterday, leaving four children dead.
Three children were swept away in a raging flood in a car while on their way to school yesterday.
Another child died after his home collapsed from the heavy downpour.
Hundreds of people are displaced after their homes were washed away.
A British Airways flight from Johannesburg to Durban also hit a wet patch while landing on the runway at the Durban International Airport.
The plane skidded, resulting in one of the wheels ending up off the runway as the plane was brought to a halt. None of the 87 passengers and six crew on board the aircraft were injured but one person was treated for shock.
The airport was briefly closed owing to poor weather. It has since reopened.
Roads were water-logged and homes in low-lying areas were washed away.
The storm ravaged households between Umkomaas and Port Edward along the province's popular Hibiscus Coast. The region experienced 200mm of rain in 13 hours. Hibiscus Coast Protection Services head Victor Chetty said search and rescue teams were still scouring the area for more victims in need of help.
"The three children, aged seven, 14 and 17, were swept away in raging flood waters while travelling in a car near Umgababa," Chetty said.
"A seven-year-old boy died after the roof of his home collapsed on him in nearby Louisiana. We have activated our Ugu district disaster management centre to help the homeless."
The car the pupils were travelling in was swept off a bridge by a strong current. Four pupils managed to swim to safety. Only one body has so far been recovered.
"Rescuers are still searching for the missing pupils," said the deputy principal of Sidelile School, Mpumelelo Thobela, where the pupils were learners. "The parents are very worried but we have not given up hope."
The National Sea Rescue Institute commander at the Pont Holiday Resort, Mick Banks, said at least 10 people were ferried to higher ground.
"Caravans and the main house on the Pont Holiday Resort grounds are under water. No one was injured."
Search and rescue teams had to pluck 20 people off rooftops at Ifafa beach. At least 600 people had to be evacuated from peri-urban and low-lying rural areas.
About 112 pensioners had to be rescued from an old age home in Amazimtoti.
In Durban hundreds of motorists were caught in traffic for nearly two hours in the eThekwini region.
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