Floods wreak havoc

KZN: THREE PEOPLE DIE AFTER BEING TRAPPED IN KWAMAKUTA MUDSLIDES

- Enkosi Selane

Structural collapses caused by sand banks washing into homes.

Heavy rain triggered devastating mudslides in KwaMakuta, south of Durban, yesterday, claiming lives and causing signifi cant damage to properties.

Arrive Alive initially reported a mudslide claimed the lives of two people in KwaMakuta near the R603 road. Emergency responders were dispatched to the scene.

“An incident occurred of a mudslide at a house. Reports are that there are two fatalities with the bodies entrapped. Local authorities are on the scene for assistance and further investigations,” said the organisation.

ALS paramedics spokesperson Garrith Jamieson confi rmed yesterday that three people were buried under sand and rubble at two homes in KwaMakutha, aft er mudslides caused by heavy rains.

He said eThekwini fi re and emergency rescue workers were att ending to structural collapses caused by sand banks washing into homes in the early hours of the morning.

“In the fi rst instance, a bank tore through the home in which a family of four was inside. Fortunately, the children managed to escape but the parents were buried under the sand and rubble,” Jamieson s aid.