Death toll from KZN floods revised to 460

A total of 87 people still missing. 

 

Premier Sihle Zikala says more than 85 000 people were affected when parts of the province were left devastated in April. 

 

"With 461 fatalities, sadly we still have 23 unidentified bodies with DNA's not collected.

 

Zikalala confirmed on Sunday that KwaZulu-Natal incurred R25 billion in damages.

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 "The impact of the flood on eThekwini has been massive. We believe that while we attend to the entire province we should speed up our response in eThekwini because this is where we are to make the greatest impact on reversing the destruction that to place."

 

The premier gave an update on the responses to the disaster on Sunday. 

 

This weekend marked exactly two months since the floods wreaked havoc in five KZN districts. 

 

Work to restore infrastructure and revive the economy has now entered the second stage. 

 

"While immediate humanitarian relief has been procured, we are certain that all affected person are safe and that their basic needs have been met," Zikalala said.

 

"The forecast has now shifted to stabilisation, rehousing people who have lost home and restoration of services as well as rehabilitation and reconstruction programme which entail building back better."

 

Temporary units for more than 4 000 displaced families are still being built.

 

 "Two-hundred-and-six temporary residential units have been completed to date and there is been progress in identifying land for further building," the premier added.