3 kids dead, 6 missing in KZN floods

NSRI volunteers help evacuate 76 people from an earlier flood. Stock photo: NSRI

NSRI volunteers help evacuate 76 people from an earlier flood. Stock photo: NSRI

Published Dec 11, 2012

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Durban - Three children died when two shacks collapsed in heavy rains in Durban, eThekwini metro police said on Tuesday.

Spokesman Eugene Msomi said a shack collapsed in Chatsworth's Bayview informal settlement and another in Clairmont on Monday night.

Two children died at Bayview informal settlement and one died in Clairmont.

In related events, six children and an adult are missing after being trapped on an island in the Umzinto River, near Durban, the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) said on Tuesday.

On Monday evening, the NSRI's Durban sea rescue crew were requested to help after heavy rains in the area swelled rivers, spokesman Craig Lambinon said in a statement.

“Due to excessive flood torrents on the river these seven people could not be reached....”

He said police search and rescue crews resumed the search on Tuesday morning.

Three other people were rescued from the iFafa Club Marina Resort, south of Umzinto.

Police helped three more people to safety in KwaMashu, Durban. Lambinon said.

“They had scrambled up scaffolding, to escape flood waters, on a construction site after abandoning their vehicle on the flooded bridge.”

Police, fire and rescue services, and the uThukela Municipality would continue to monitor the area. - Sapa

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