Durban - Shipping operations in the Durban harbour has been halted after strong winds continue to batter Durban.
The Durban Container Terminal Pier 1 has been advised of severe weather conditions heading towards the terminals. The terminals have stopped all operations.
In a message circulated to logistics companies, transporters were advised to evacuate all trucks from the terminal with immediately. Trucks were advised to park at safer areas until the conditions improve.
A reliable source told the Daily News that wind speeds reached between 80 and 90 km/h which caused six-metre sea swells.
Ship captains in the Durban harbour have been told to tighten or add additional ropes from the ship to the bollards so the lines don't break.
This was to avoid a repeat of ships drifting in the harbour and causing extensive damage like October 2017. The source said that vessels at the outer anchorage have been told to pick up anchor and move further out to sea to avoid the ships drifting towards the shore by dragging their anchors.
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) warned of severe thunderstorms that are expected over the interior parts of the province.
The Kwa-Zulu Natal MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Nomusa Dube-Ncube has placed disaster management teams on standby. The weather alert indicates that lightning, flash flooding, very strong winds, hail and in some cases, tornadoes can be expected.
Dube-Ncube has urged residents to take great caution as thunderstorms pose a serious threat to human life.