Kwazulu Natal on high alert as Irina may return

People walk out on a pier to look at the large waves caused by Tropical Storm Irina, which is sitting about 200 nautical miles off South Africa's coastal hub, Durban. Sixty-five people were killed when the storm struck Madagascar.
Reuters

March 6 2012 at 11:15am
By Lungelo Mkamba and Sapa-AP

Grateful that there had been no loss of life in KwaZulu-Natal after tropical storm Irina struck at the weekend, the provincial government has nevertheless vowed to remain on high alert after weather forecasters said the storm could return this weekend.

The weather service said on Monday that the storm could redevelop by Friday.

Forecaster Wiseman Dlamini said areas along coastal KZN could experience the same weather that bufffeted the province at the weekend.

“It is too early to say if the storm could return stronger.”

In Mozambique, emergency officials said heavy rain and strong wind caused by Irina killed eight people over the weekend.

An official said three people were killed on Sunday when a tree fell on their homes in Xai Xai. State media said scores of homes and schools were destroyed and five fishermen were killed off Beira on Saturday.

Co-operative Governance Department spokesman Vernon Mchunu said on Monday that at least 48 families had been affected by the storm, with six being moved to halls after their homes were destroyed.

He said his department was conducting assessments to determine the extent of the damage in the province.

Nomvelo Makhetha, 13, was admitted to hospital after the walls at his Klaarwater home, near Pinetown, collapsed on him on Sunday.

Relatives were emotional on Monday as they gathered outside the wrecked home.

Victoria Makhetha, 52, said she had only been able to see her son’s face when the debris covered him. “I managed to rescue him and an ambulance arrived shortly after to take him to hospital.”

The family is living in a nearby hall.

Sihle Mathe said his aunt Phumaphi Makhaye, of Jozini, had been moved to Ngwelezane Hospital on Monday after breaking her legs when her house collapsed on her.

Hilton Sibiya, a member of the Kennedy Road Development Committee, said on Monday that three more shacks had collapsed overnight, adding to the three which collapsed and 53 which were damaged at the weekend.

Transnet spokesman Mboniso Sigonyela said conditions had not reached levels where operations at Durban’s port would have to stop.

Meanwhile, organisers of the Quiksilver Goodwave surfing event planned for Wednesday said the weather conditions caused by Irina were favourable to produce the best surfing expected all year along Durban’s Golden Mile.

- The Mercury