NOW destitute residents of the Emhlabeni informal settlement, Lamontville, who warned of a looming disaster last year, live to tell the harrowing tale following the death of six people who were swept away during the heavy rainfall on Wednesday morning.

Two additional fatalities were reported, and search and rescue operations remained on the ground by midday as authorities strived to retrieve the bodies of the victims.

Authorities and rescue services fear the death toll would rise as some residents were reported as “still missing”.

In May, ahead of the elections, The Daily News visited the informal settlement, where residents expressed concerns about their living conditions.

They warned that disaster was likely, as many homes, made of corrugated iron, sat less than ten metres from the banks of the uMlazi River, where the five people met their fate.

Musa Cele, a long-time resident and community leader, had made pleas to the government for urgent relocation to safer accommodation, revealing that they had been displaced from his previous home since the 2008, when floods ripped through their settlement in uMlazi.

“We have been warning the government that the living conditions here were a ticking time bomb. The river is very close to the houses that the people lived in. Five people have died now, and you’ll see them coming here to offer their condolences. We are still warning them again that if people are not relocated from this place, there will be more tragic events,” said Cele.

Cele, who was one of the community members who aided some residents who narrowly escaped being swept away, recounted the horrific scenes that unfolded on Tuesday, leading into the early hours of Wednesday.

“The rain started becoming heavy at around 11pm. Some of the residents then fled from their homes, fearing they would be swept away by the water as the river was filling up," said Cele.

Others shouted for help, prompting a collective community mobilisation to assist those in danger, said Cele.

Some were unable to reach safety as they attempted to navigate the fast-rising waters of the uMlazi River in the early hours of Wednesday.

A family member of one of the deceased residents, whose body was yet to be recovered, asked for the Daily News to contact her when the body was found.

“I am sorry I can’t talk right. Please call me at a later time when we have found the body,” she said in passing.

In a statement, the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) confirmed the recovery of five bodies, two adult males and three children, who were swept away into a canal during the early hours of this morning (Wednesday).

“Search and rescue operations were conducted tirelessly to locate the victims. This devastating incident occurred amidst heavy rainfall that has impacted large portions of the province, causing significant damage and flooding,” read a statement from COGTA.

“We are deeply saddened by this incident and offer our sincere sympathies to the bereaved families during this incredibly difficult time,” stated the COGTA MEC, Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi.

The heavy rainfall also left a trail of destruction in the Ugu District and eThekwini.

Many roads and establishments in the disaster-prone eThekwini, including the Mega City Mall, were forced to be closed amid the floods.

By around midday on Wednesday, the centre management of Mega City had not opened the string of outlets in its premises as business owners were still clearing the water that had flooded their units.

This disaster comes as eThekwini was still recovering from last week’s flooding that left Shozi, Nkwanyana and Mhlongo in KwaMakhutha grieving after losing their loved ones during torrent rainfall.

Premier of KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Thamsanqa Ntuli, visited the families in KwaMakhutha on Tuesday and vowed the government would speedily place the families in proper houses.

“We are also going to assist the families with the funerals of their loved ones and also help them to rebuild their lives,” said Ntuli.

The South African Weather Service had issued a Level 2 weather warning, indicating the possibility of further rainfall throughout the day.

“In light of the ongoing weather conditions, the MEC urgently appeals to residents in low-lying areas to seek shelter on higher ground. The risk of flooding remains exceptionally high, particularly in vulnerable areas,” added the statement.

The Provincial Disaster Management Centre was actively coordinating the province’s response to the weather emergency in collaboration with various social partners.

Disaster teams were currently on the ground, providing support to affected communities, while the full extent of the damage was still being assessed.

COGTA department also “strongly advised motorists to exercise extreme caution while driving, as roads are exceptionally slippery due to the persistent rainfall.”

DAILY NEWS