A woman walks through heavy rain in the city of Durban. AFP/Rajesh Jantilal
DURBAN - Disaster management teams across KwaZulu-Natal are on standby ahead of severe weather expected to hit the province from midnight.
The South African Weather Service has issued a Level 6 warning for disruptive rainfall, with the possibility of flooding in several areas.
The provincial Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) is urging residents to take the warnings seriously and avoid unnecessary travel, particularly in areas at high risk of flooding.
Cogta spokesperson Siboniso Mngadi said the warning has been escalated for coastal areas stretching from Port Shepstone to Mandeni.
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“These coastal areas are currently at a high risk of flooding because the warning has been escalated to Level 6, which is posing a serious risk to the communities and also to motorists,” Mngadi said.
Authorities have activated a joint operations cluster involving municipalities, law enforcement agencies and emergency services.
Mngadi said teams met on Wednesday to put contingency measures in place and ensure they are ready to respond should emergencies arise.
“Our municipalities are also on standby. They’ve created safety havens, community halls and public facilities that will be open for anyone who may need safer places,” he said.