Report
Floods in South Africa: in Durban, in shock, residents testify
Audio 01:13
Flood-swept houses in Ntuzuma, near Durban, South Africa.
AP-STR
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
In Durban, it is time to restore basic services.
The town has been the epicenter of severe flooding in KwaZulu-Natal province.
According to a provisional report, 306 people died and a significant number of people are still missing.
Ahead of further rains expected this weekend, individuals are taking advantage of the good weather in the coastal city to hastily repair and clean their homes.
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With our special correspondent in KwaZulu-Natal,
Romain Chanson
It's the big day for Mbongiseni: the water has been evacuated and he can find his abandoned truck.
This truck driver was sleeping in it tight Monday morning when we came to wake him up urgently.
"
They came knocking on my door: 'Hey buddy, you better get out
!'
There was water everywhere, even the small cars were under water.
They saved my life.
Then I ran to a business where there were stairs.
We waited there while someone came to save us.
” Refugee in height, the drivers were rescued six hours later.
People walk on an improvised bridge in Ntuzuma, near Durban, South Africa, April 12, 2022. AP - STR
Today, there is only mud left and his truck should be able to set off again in the direction of Johannesburg.
It's the same mud still piling up in front of Sheeman's and preventing us from joining him.
The hill that shaded the house collapsed in his garden.
“
That's all the soil that has entered our garden and we still have to remove it.
When the column collapsed, it poured out with water and the house was flooded.
It's going to rain this weekend, so we're worried the hill will continue to collapse
,” Sheeman said.
About ten meters above, on the hill, barracks in jail face the void.
The inhabitants clean their house despite the dangers.
If the hill were to crumble any further, it would take away their home.
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South Africa
Natural disasters