Hundreds evacuated after fresh floods hit eastern South Africa

JOHANNESBURG

Hundreds of people were evacuated after heavy rains hit parts of South Africa’s eastern coastal province of KwaZulu-Natal on the weekend, causing fresh floods and damages.

“The damage is huge, especially to infrastructure. We send our message of sympathy to all those who have been affected,” KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala told reporters on Monday.

He said areas along the southern coastline have been heavily damaged by the floods.

Local media reported that a body was found on a riverbank in Phoenix, a town near Durban, but authorities are yet to confirm if it is linked to the ongoing floods.

Last month, devastating floods hit KwaZulu-Natal, claiming more than 430 lives. Thousands of people were displaced and are being accommodated at temporary shelters.

Video footage broadcast on television channels on Monday showed damaged roads, bridges and buildings.

Zikalala said the weekend floods have hindered the government's efforts to rebuild and repair the infrastructure damaged by April's floods.