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By Thobeka Ngema 
4h ago
Durban – Inclement weather is expected to continue in KwaZulu-Natal as hail the size of tennis balls fell in Pietermaritzburg on Wednesday afternoon, while parts of downtown Durban and surrounding areas were surprised by the intensity of a morning thunderstorm.
The storm caused localized flooding, road closures and confused residents.
Blue Security spokesman Andreas Mathios said areas affected by the storm and localized flooding included, among others, the M19, Reservoir Hills, Rick Turner Road and Gale Street.
Mathios said stormwater drains along Umgeni Road were flooded and stormwater drains along Gale Street were blocked.
He said that in Pinetown, all the trash from the Umbilo River was dumped on Stapleton Road.
“This is not the first time it has happened, it has been happening for years. That road is completely blocked by the garbage that came from the river. ”
Precast Cement Products Managing Director Keith Brockton said eThekwini Township quickly cleaned up debris that had washed up on Stapleton Road yesterday.
Brockton said that during its operating hours, the road had been closed from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.
At noon the traffic flowed.
After 6 a.m. yesterday, a driver and passenger were seriously injured after a tree collapsed on a taxi passing by Trafford Road in Westmead.
Rescue Care spokesman Rowan Scandroglio said the driver and passenger were trapped in the taxi, and Rescue Care’s advanced life support paramedics worked to stabilize the patients, while Netcare’s 911 Rescue Unit along with the Durban Fire Department used the jaws of life to cut patients. the vehicle.
Once free, both patients were transferred to the hospital. SA Weather Service (Saws) forecaster Stacy Colborne said Saws had issued a warning about thunderstorm activity in southern parts of KwaZulu-Natal, including Durban.
Colborne said 16mm of rain fell in Durban between Tuesday and yesterday morning.
He said it was normal during the season to expect thunderstorm activity.
“Most of the precipitation comes from storms, and these are usually accompanied by lightning, rain and the possibility of hail. The severity of the storm can only be judged from day to day.
“Not every day will have storm activity, but some days will be cloudy with rain.”
Municipal spokesman Msawakhe Mayisela said the Early Warning Forecast System (Fews), which launched last week, began monitoring on Monday.
Mayisela said Fews sent messages to her team at 4 am yesterday.
The readings did not indicate a massive storm, just heavy rain.
His Fews team was on the ground monitoring the situation closely, especially in vulnerable areas that have a history of localized flooding.
No messages were issued to residents to avoid causing panic. He also said there were teams on the ground collecting information on clean-up operations.
Residents called to report the flooding and two houses were reported to have flooded.
Cooperative governance and traditional affairs MEC Sipho Hlomuka warned residents of affected areas to avoid low roads and bridges as they are susceptible to flooding.
Those outside during a thunderstorm are urged to seek shelter immediately, but not under trees, telephone lines, or power lines.
Daily News
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