Stay away from flood-hit tourist destination, officials urge travelers

THE latest deadly KwaZulu-Natal floods have forced the Ray Nkonyeni Municipality in Port Shepstone to urge tourists to delay their trips to tourist towns, including Margate and Shelly Beach.

The two areas were severely affected by heavy rainfall that resulted in localised flooding with the warning coming amid another heavy rainfall forecast in the area until midnight Monday.

In a statement on Monday, the municipality confirmed that a 63-year-old woman was declared dead after a mudslide in the Ebomvini area and warned motorists to avoid road trips to the lower south coast if necessary.

“Residents and motorists are urged to exercise extreme caution, avoid unnecessary travel, and delay road trips where possible as adverse weather conditions are expected to persist until midnight,” read the statement.

The municipality's spokesperson Simon April said the woman was inside the house when a mudslide occurred. He said while the assessment and mop up operations are being conducted, the impact was most severe at the Margate Beach promenade, Shelly Beach and Port Shepstone CBD, as well as surrounding areas.

He said fallen trees that had obstructed roads and posed risks to road users were being removed. 

Residential and business properties were affected and sink holes were reported at Manaba and Leisure Bay. Lower level bridges along the P200 were flooded and the Ugu pump station at Borough Sportsgrounds was submerged. The floods also caused a power outage in Oslo Beach. 

Margate Basin Association spokesperson Surina Smart said although their businesses were affected, people, especially tourists, should come to the properties under their associations in Port Shepstone CBD, Shelly Beach and Margate.

KwaZulu-Natal Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi announced that disaster management teams have been placed on high alert in the areas along the south coast of the province.

Cape Times