This picture taken on April 24, 2019 shows crosses placed on debris after a house of a school care taker was destroyed by a mudslide killing eight people during torrential rains and flash floods in Chatsworth, south of Durban. – The death toll from floods and mudslides that crushed homes in the South African port of Durban on April 22 has risen to 51, with reports of children missing and scores of people displaced, local authorities said. (Photo by RAJESH JANTILAL / AFP)
2019 KZN Easter floods: 85 deaths, R650m in damage over five days
In April 2019, at least 85 people died in KwaZulu-Natal after devastating floods and mudslides followed torrential rain in the province.
This picture taken on April 24, 2019 shows crosses placed on debris after a house of a school care taker was destroyed by a mudslide killing eight people during torrential rains and flash floods in Chatsworth, south of Durban. – The death toll from floods and mudslides that crushed homes in the South African port of Durban on April 22 has risen to 51, with reports of children missing and scores of people displaced, local authorities said. (Photo by RAJESH JANTILAL / AFP)
Just three years ago, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal was hit by record-breaking rainfall, which led to devastating flooding, mudslides and property damage similar to what is currently happening in the province.
Over the five days between 18 and 22 April 2019, at least 85 people died and the metropolitan municipality recorded an estimated R650 million in damage.
READ:
- KZN floods: Mosque collapses, muezzin feared trapped – Video
- KZN floods: SANDF called in to help with rescue efforts and disaster relief
DEADLY DURBAN FLOODS IN 2019
In 2019, 13 people were killed as a result of the heavy rains when a church building collapsed in Empangeni.
According to SABC News, the deceased were attending a Pentecostal Church Passover service ahead of the Easter weekend.
On 25 April 2019, then-KZN COGTA MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube said the death toll of the flood was at least 85, including those who died in the Empangeni church collapse.
The deaths had been verified by police and other officials on the ground.
“If you combine the number of deaths through the unfortunate disaster incidents since the Easter weekend church tragedy and the recent storms that give the total of 85 deaths. We deeply mourn the loss of our fellow citizens,” said Dube-Ncube.
A report, which was initiated by the eThekwni Metro municipality, revealed that it would cost more than R650 million to repair the damage caused by the flooding.
The 2019 flooding was reportedly caused by a record-breaking 165mm of rain in Durban over 24 hour period, according to data by the South African Weather Service (SAWS).
As of Tuesday, 12 April 2022, at least 20 people have died in the flooding, according to the KZN government.
Ahead of the weekend of Friday, 8 April, the weather service warned that flooding could be expected in parts of South Africa because of a cut-off low system.
The rain intensified in KZN over the weekend and Monday, 11 April, which prompted the service to issue an Orange Level 8 warning for rain, which is valid until Tuesday at 21:00.
The weather service said with the soil already saturated and some drainage systems full, widespread flooding could be expected to continue along the KZN coast.
