Death, damage during Durban downpour

The heavy downpour of rain on Sunday has claimed the lives of at least two people, flooded several homes and caused some flight delays at Durban’s King Shaka International Airport.

Netcare911 spokesman Chris Botha said two people died and one man was injured when a truck slammed into a car on the N2 near Umtentweni during Sunday afternoon.

He said reports from the truck driver indicated that both vehicles were travelling towards Durban when a car carrying a father and his two sons hit a large puddle of water in heavy rain and slid sideways across the highway into a heavy goods truck.

“The remains of the car and truck came to rest several metres up the road with the occupants trapped inside.”

Paramedics found the sons – both teenagers – dead at the scene.

“The father, who was driving, escaped with only minor injuries,” Botha said.

He was stabilised and taken to a hospital in Port Shepstone. The truck driver was not injured.

In another accident, a woman sustained serious injuries after her vehicle hit a puddle of water on the N2 near the Chatsworth off-ramp.

Botha said reports indicated that the woman was travelling towards Durban on Sunady night when her vehicle overturned several times after hitting the puddle.

Reports of houses being flooded came from several areas in and around the city.

In Umlazi’s AA section, Blossom Mshiba, 56, said floodwaters gushed into her home, damaging her belongings.

In Inanda, a resident who only identified herself as Pinky said the back wall of her home had crumbled under the force of the water.

In Verulam, Pat Naidoo said his home was flooded and most of his belongings were destroyed.

The heavy rain had caused flight delays at King Shaka International Airport, with a flight from Joburg diverted to Bloemfontein as a safety precaution.

Comedian Pieter Dirk Uys was pulled off stage 10 minutes before the final scene of his current production Adapt or Fly at the Elizabeth Sneddon theatre in Durban on Sunday after water seeped on to the stage.

The South African Weather Service issued a “severe weather” warning, saying heavy showers were expected along the South Coast and adjacent interior on Monday with “possible flash flooding in low-lying areas”.

By 8pm on Sunday night, Margate had had 98.2mm of rain, Port Edward 124.2mm and Durban 41.2mm of rain.

Meanwhile, four people were seriously injured when a bakkie and taxi collided on the N2 near Umgababa on Sunday evening.

- IOL