Deaths, dramatic rescue in Durban floods - PICS

Published May 9, 2016

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Thami Magubane, Sphelele Ngubane and Given Majola

Durban -

Householders, firefighters and paramedics worked frantically for more than an hour on Sunday to rescue a two-year-old boy who was trapped under soil and rocks during a mudslide in Sea Cow Lake, Durban.

At least six people were killed in separate incidents due to flooding and landslides caused by heavy rain that had fallen in the province since Friday.

Four people, including a 4-year-old child, drowned as they attempted to cross the Umhlatuzana River in the early hours of Saturday.

A 1-year-old child died in a landslide on Saturday in Umlazi and a 5-year-old was killed in Rafia Road, Chatsworth on Saturday, the city said.

In the Johanna Road, Sea Cow Lake incident on Sunday, the mudslide left at least 33 structures damaged or destroyed and several people homeless.

Resident Constable Miya, said it took 90 minutes for the boy to be rescued.

“We did not know where he was as he was buried under the soil and the rocks.

“We had to dig and try to follow his voice. When he screamed, we ran to the area where we thought he was and dug there. We were struggling to get to him,” said Miya.

He said a makeshift retaining wall, built using rocks, had collapsed and the rocks rolled down a slope and crashed into the transit camp structures below.

Chris Botha of Netcare 911 said: “A shout of joy was heard when they managed to pull the very traumatised boy from the rubble.

“The seriously injured child was treated before he was transported to a Durban hospital for care.”

He said fantastic teamwork between firefighters, medics and the public ensured a safe rescue.

Miya said that by Sunday afternoon a number of homes had been destroyed and many more were in danger of collapse.

“We have counted 33 houses that had been damaged and each house has a family of about three or four people staying there.”

Ward councillor Ganesh Deochand said he had visited the area and tried to arrange for assistance. He said the situation had become tense.

“I had to stay with the people but I could not promise them disaster help because that is not in my authority.”

Homes in Clairwood were also flooded.

Fathima Vazir’s house was flooded in the early hours of Sunday and the family had to leave.

Vazir said they were victims of unmaintained stormwater drains on the road.

“There is an informal settlement where the dwellers dump waste. When there is rain the waste goes into the stormwater drains which become clogged.

“The water overflows and flows into my yard,” she said.

Vazir’s furniture and appliances had been damaged.

The house and the yard were flooded.

Police spokesman Thulani Zwane said four people, including a 4-year-old child, were crossing the Umhlatuzana River to go from their homes to church early on Saturday morning.

They were swept away when they attempted to cross the river that had already flooded.

“Police search and rescue found two bodies but the other two have not been found.”

The unit would continue with the search on Monday after the river has subsided.

There was also a spate of rain-related accidents which saw a number of fatalities on KwaZulu-Natal roads at the weekend.

An elderly woman died on Sunday morning when the car in which she was travelling with her husband collided with a bakkie on the N2 south before the Umgababa off-ramp.

Botha said when paramedics arrived they found the elderly couple’s car, in which they had been travelling from Umkomaas to Amanzimtoti, had hurtled across the centre median into the southbound carriageway when it was struck by the bakkie.

Paramedics said the woman had died on impact. Her husband, estimated to be in his late 60s, who had life-threatening injuries, was taken to hospital.

The driver of the bakkie, was treated for serious injuries and taken to hospital.

A child died and several other members of the same family were injured on Sunday afternoon when the car hit a barrier before rolling into the centre medium on the N3 Durban-bound about 400m before the Shongweni Hillcrest on-ramp.

In other accidents, one man was killed and two others were injured in a collision that involved a car and a bakkie on the M1 at Savannah Park near Chatsworth on Saturday night.

Twelve people were injured on Sunday when a taxi was involved in a crash in the Waterfall area, ER24 spokeswoman Chitra Bodasing said.

Co-operative Governance Department spokesman Lennox Mabaso said disaster teams had been dispatched across the province and in Durban eight wards were affected.

Shami Harichunder, of Umgeni Water, said they would only know on Monday whether the rainfall had made a significant difference to the dam levels.

The Mercury

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