Urgent search for three missing after vehicle swept away by floods in Amanzimtoti
A screengrab from a video shows a vehicle that has been washed away in flooding in Amanzimtoti. Three people are missing.
Image: ALS Paramedics
Three people are feared missing after the vehicle they were travelling in was swept away by floodwaters in the Longacres Drive area of Amanzimtoti, south of Durban, during heavy rain on Sunday night.
ALS Paramedics said rescue teams were on scene, with search efforts under way amid difficult conditions.
The incident is the latest emergency linked to widespread flooding across parts of KwaZulu-Natal following intense rainfall over the weekend.
On Sunday night, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) confirmed that provincial disaster management teams had been deployed to the Ray Nkonyeni Local Municipality on the South Coast after flash floods caused extensive damage to the infrastructure.
The Cogta department said the coastal belt from Margate to Port Shepstone was hit by heavy rain from mid-afternoon, resulting in damage to roads, commercial properties, and shopping centres. Multiple roads were obstructed by fallen trees, while sinkholes were reported in some areas.
Provincial disaster teams and fire and rescue services were deployed to clear debris, assess damage, and monitor weather conditions.
KwaZulu-Natal Transport and Human Settlements MEC Siboniso Duma also announced the deployment of Road Traffic Inspectorate officers and engineers to assess road safety and manage possible closures, particularly in flood-affected tourist areas.
Authorities have urged motorists and residents to avoid flooded roads and bridges, exercising extreme caution as emergency teams remain on high alert.