[PICS] KZN floods: Glenwood resident recounts tree smashing through home

Authorities say at least 20 lives have been lost in the province while several people are missing.

Many homes have collapsed, many more have been flooded along with roads.

Some areas in Durban are without electricity after power lines were knocked out. 

One Glenwood resident says he was woken up by a tree smashing through his home in the early hours of this morning.

"Around 02:15 this morning, there was this massive sound of rocks and then a tree being uprooted from across the road and suddenly there was this loud bang and a crash and we all woke up to this and rushed out and found this massive tree piercing through our front door and gate."

Nervon Samaru says he and his family have been up all night and this morning scooping up dirty water and debris as they try to save their home from further damage.

He says they are in shock.

Samaru says he's also angry because he believes the flooding could've been avoided if the municipality answered his calls weeks ago.

"Currently, we are trying to bail all the water out of the entrance hall and trying to save it from not getting into the main house and basically dealing with very dirty water and lots of soil, sand, twigs and leaves.”