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Six dead after heavy flooding south of Durban as heavy rains batter KZN

Six dead after heavy flooding south of Durban as heavy rains batter KZN
Oribi Crescent Mobeni. A Family escaped as the roadway collapsed beneath their house. No injuries reported. (Photo: ALS Paramedics)
Julia Evans
By Julia Evans
26 Feb 2025
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Severe flooding across KwaZulu-Natal’s South Coast has claimed six lives and left hundreds displaced. Disaster management teams are working tirelessly to respond to the crisis, while authorities warn of further severe weather.

Just before 3am on Wednesday, emergency services responded to reports of five people being swept away in the Umlazi River after heavy rainfall and flooding throughout the night near Lamontville, south of Durban. eThekwini Fire Department, ALS Paramedics and Durban Metro Police’s search-and-rescue teams arrived at the river, near Gwala Street, to launch a search operation.

According to eThekwini Municipality, six deaths have been confirmed so far – two adult women (aged 56 and 60) and three children (aged 5, 11, and 16) from Lamontville, along with a sixth victim from Chatsworth.

Tokelo Chiloane, senior forecaster at the South African Weather Service (SAWS), told Daily Maverick that this flooding follows days of persistent rainfall over the central and eastern parts of South Africa in the past few weeks.

“The area is prone to flooding,” noted Chiloane. “Taking this into consideration, SAWS has issued a Yellow Level 2 warning for the southern parts of KZN for severe thunderstorms, which are expected to bring heavy downpours, damaging winds, excessive lightning and hail.

“Emergency services teams worked tirelessly throughout the night searching for the missing people who were washed away in the floods,” eThekwini Municipality reported on Wednesday midday. “Unfortunately, they were later discovered and confirmed dead.”

The bodies of two children were recovered on Cutting Beach, Merebank, in the South of Durban on Wednesday morning, 26 February. At this stage authorities can’t confirm if it’s related to the Umlazi River incident. (Photo: Lauren Hendricks)


Search and recovery operations


Speaking from the scene on Gwala Road in the early hours of Wednesday, Garrith Jamieson, spokesperson for ALS Paramedics said “the torrential rain and flooding that took place last tonight has left a trail of destruction”, describing how the force of the flooding washed from the houses into the canal.

Rescue efforts continued in the darkness through the early hours, with rescuers scanning torches across washed over vegetation and debris, but efforts had to be temporarily suspended at 4am due to hazardous terrain and poor visibility.

At first light, teams resumed their search for five missing people – two men and three children under 17 (two girls and a boy). By 8am, four bodies had been recovered, including two children found at Cuttings Beach near Merebank, where the Umlazi River flows into the Indian Ocean.

Further search operations took place at Ansteys Beach and Brighton Beach on the Bluff, where the bodies of two adult women were washed ashore and declared dead by paramedics. At the time it was reported that the police will investigate whether these incidents are linked to the Umlazi River tragedy.

Weather outlook for Wednesday, 26 February 2025. (Source: SAWS)


Weather warnings


On Tuesday, the weather service issued a Level 2 warning for severe thunderstorms along the South Coast of KZN, warning the public of expected heavy downpours, localised flooding, damaging winds, excessive lightning and hail damage. A Level 1 warning was also issued for the Wild Coast in the Eastern Cape for disruptive rainfall. 

On Wednesday, SAWS again issued a Level 2 warning for the entire KZN coast and adjacent interior.  

It is warning residents to take all necessary precautions as the disruptive rain continues to devastate KZN communities.

The eThekwini Municipality reported extensive damage in areas surrounding eThekwini, with flooding causing structural collapses, mudslides and fallen trees. About 280 families in Lamontville were affected by last night’s heavy rains and will be relocated to temporary shelters as mop-up operations continue.

Oribi Crescent Mobeni: A family escaped as the roadway collapsed beneath their house. No injuries reported. (Photo: ALS Paramedics)


Impact on infrastructure and public safety


The flooding has forced the closure of several beaches due to water contamination, debris and infrastructure damage. Affected beaches will remain closed until further notice. Motorists have been advised to follow traffic reports, as several roads have been rendered impassable, including:

  • N2 Murchison;

  • Umbango Bridge;

  • Kwangwabe;

  • Grace Low-Level Bridge;

  • Beach Garage;

  • Nkongweni Bridge (Margate); and

  • OK Foods and Pharmacy (Margate).


Motorists are advised to follow traffic reports and use alternative routes.

The KZN Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs confirmed that disaster response teams are conducting evacuations and providing aid to affected communities.

“Our priority is the safety and wellbeing of our residents,” said KZN’s cooperative governance and traditional affairs MEC, Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi, assuring residents that disaster response teams are working around the clock to rescue residents who are trapped by the floods.

“We are working tirelessly to assist those affected by the floods and to lessen further damage.”

Authorities urge the public to stay informed via official channels and report emergencies to 031 361 0000. 

SAWS’ Level 2 weather warning remains in place until 6pm today, with further heavy rain expected.

This is a developing story. DM

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