KZN on high alert for severe rain as Orange warnings issued

Disaster management teams across KwaZulu-Natal have been put on high alert to monitor all areas prone to flooding.

This is after the South African Weather Service issued an Orange Level 8 warning for disruptive rain over the coastal area for the next 3 days.

An Orange Level 6 warning has been issued for the rest of the province.

Orange Level 8 means there’s a low likelihood of severe impacts, while Level 6 is a high likelihood of significant impacts.

According to the Weather Service, there’s a risk of low-lying bridges being flooded, fast-flowing rivers and rockfalls.

The KwaZulu-Natal Cooperative Governance Department has asked people to stay indoors if possible.

Strong winds

In Free State, two people have been transported to hospital after they were injured when strong winds blew away the roof of a petrol station at Welkom.

The Free State Department of Cooperative Governance spokesperson Zimasa Mbewu says the local fire station has also been severely damaged as well as a school and several houses.

Mbewu says it is not clear whether the weather phenomenon was a tornado or a severe thunderstorm.

“We are awaiting a report from the South African Weather Service on whether it is a tornado as it is widely reported. At the fire station, the building was partially damaged but there were no injuries although there were people on duty. The Building is currently unoccupied but other local fire brigades in neighbouring towns have been called in to assist in to assist in the area of Welkom. The disaster management office has also been affected by the strong winds resulting in the building being completely out of network currently making it very difficult for the district disaster teams to be able to communicate with the public.”