South Africa: Heavy rains cause deadly flooding in KwaZulu-Natal
Heavy rains hit the Durban region in South Africa on April 12, 2022. AFP - PHILL MAGAKOE
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More than 250 people lost their lives, according to a report from local authorities, the majority of deaths being recorded in Durban and its surroundings.
Region where President Cyril Ramaphosa has been traveling since Wednesday April 13, 2022 to assess the damage and meet the inhabitants.
One of the challenges of his visit is to declare the status of natural disaster to release funds.
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With our correspondent in Johannesburg
,
Romain Chanson
The skies have cleared and it's time to inspect the damage in KwaZulu-Natal.
President Ramaphosa first visited a bereaved family in Clermont in the hinterland and was greeted with tears.
The President offered his condolences to a family who lost four children in the collapse of their home.
In the reliefs, it is the mudslides that carried away the dwellings.
At the edge of the rivers, it is the torrents that have swept away the houses in jail.
Cyril Ramaphosa is to spend the day in the region with several ministers.
He will surely not be able to go everywhere as the roads and bridges have been pulverized by the waters, leaving gaping faults in the middle of the roads.
Heavy rain still expected
The Durban area was the epicenter of the storm.
Rainfall records were recorded in several places.
Industrial areas were devastated, we saw scattered containers, a refinery under water and not far a Toyota factory also flooded.
A new blow for the economy of the region already hard hit by looting during the riots of July 2021.
These floods are reminiscent of those of 2019 which killed 85 people during the Easter weekend.
Easter is Sunday and heavy rains are still announced.
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To read also: South Africa: Durban slums affected by torrential rains
(
April 26, 2019
)
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South Africa
Natural disasters
Water
Cyril Ramaphosa
Severe weather