Cogta KZN counts cost of damages caused by recent storms
As parts of KZN brace for more severe storms this afternoon, officials are counting the cost of the damage from heavy downpours in the province in recent weeks.
Cooperative Governance says four people lost their lives, including a 3-year-old who drowned in Maphumulo Local Municipality.
The department says 1 600 homes have been affected by torrential rains that battered parts of KwaZulu Natal from mid-December.
Many reports of hail damage, structural collapses and flooded roads, came from the uMgungundlovu and Ilembe Districts, where lives were lost.
Cogta's Senzelwe Mzila says they expect the death toll to increase after Tuesday's storms.
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"Since the start of the festive season, the department has activated all disaster operation centres to monitor incidents and coordinate response to report to the weekly joint operations committee on further interventions required."
The department has also provided social relief to all municipalities for distribution to the affected households.
Over 1 360 homes were left in the dark when trees were uprooted and knocked out power lines.
Eskom in KZN says it's working tirelessly to restore the electricity supply.
Now, the weather office has issued a warning saying heavy downpours may lead to localised flooding in the province's western and southern areas, today due to severe thunderstorms, damaging winds and excessive lightning.
