More flooding expected in South Africa as weather service issues Yellow Level 4 warning

By Jerry Omondi

An aerial view of residents collecting clean water from a broken pipe sticking out from a collapsed embankment on the side of a road in Amaoti, north of Durban, on April 14, 2022. The death toll from the flooding in the coastal city of Durban reached 395 on Friday afternoon, with search and rescue operations still continuing. (Photo by MARCO LONGARI via CFP)

South Africa’s Weather Service has issued a Yellow Level 4 warning for KwaZulu-Natal province, which is already reeling from devastated floods.

The agency noted that more rains are expected through the weekend, which may cause “localized flooding of susceptible formal/informal settlements and low lying bridges.”

“Localized mudslides and soil erosion are possible,” it added.

Search and rescue operations are still ongoing in the coastal province following the heavy downpour experienced last weekend.

So far, authorities say 395 people have been killed, with more than 41,000 others affected.

The government has issued an appeal to religious and other non-governmental organizations to accommodate those affected by the floods.