Surge in drowning incidents in SA linked to flooding
Lifesaving SA says there's been a surge in drowning incidents in the country since the beginning of the year.
The organisation's president, Dhaya Sewduth, says more and more of these cases can be linked to climate change.
"We did notice a trend that there had been a spike in drownings, particularly in January and the early parts of February."
"Many of these incidents have been related to flooding, so quite a number of incidents inland could have been attributed to high rainfalls which cause the flooding and victims were actually washed away."
Sewduth says in January - there were 19 reported drowning incidents in South Africa - seven of them in KwaZulu-Natal.
READ: At least 9 fatal drownings in KZN over holiday period
In the latest tragedies - two people including a teenager drowned in separate incidents at Durban beaches over the weekend.
The body of the 16-year-old boy was recovered from Wedge Beach on Sunday.
Lifeguards managed to save his friend after the two got into difficulty.
A search for a 25-year-old man presumed to have drowned at another Durban beach continues.
Sewduth says in some instances - especially at beaches - some people disregard warnings.
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