At least 23 killed in severe KZN weather: COGTA

At least 23 killed in severe KZN weather: COGTA

The death toll following the heavy rains and severe flooding on parts of KwaZulu-Natal over the long weekend has increased to 23.


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Facebook - eThekwini Municipality
Officials say another 32 people are in various hospitals receiving treatment.

Some thirteen people were killed when a church collapsed on the north coast on Thursday night.

At least five people were killed when a home caved in in Malvern, near Queesnburgh last night.

Heavy downpours and severe flooding resulted in widespread destruction overnight, with MEC for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Nomusa Dube-Ncube saying disaster management teams received at least 2,000 callouts.

"The most critical areas have been mudslides, the collapse of houses, walls and banks. There has also been flooding along the rivers where people build."

NOW READ: South Durban communities hit hard by #KZNFloods

Dube-Ncube and eThekwini Mayor, Zandile Gumede briefed the media on the latest death toll and impact on the storms this morning.

Dube-Ncube says crews are on the ground across the province trying to assist.

She is urging people to be careful - as more rain is forecast for later this afternoon.

"We are requesting that people please be cautious, do not drive unless it is an emergency. We are also grateful that some schools have closed so that children remain at home where they are safe."

ALSO READ: Flooded roads, mudslides as KZN battered by heavy rains

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