18 January 2022
Some 150 people, including children, were rescued in Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, on Monday after the town was flooded following torrential rain in the area over the past two weeks.
Twenty-five children between the ages of eight weeks and 10 years old, were evacuated during the floods.
A further 125 adults were taken to the Ladysmith Indoor Sport’s Centre after homes and businesses situated in the CBD were completely flooded when the Klip River burst its banks on Sunday evening.
K9 Search and Rescue teams from Pietermaritzburg and Ladysmith used rubber boats to evacuate people from Alexander, Forbes, King, and Lyell streets.
Water levels measured up to two metres in some places and in other areas, deeper. “In some places, it is extremely difficult to stand, and water had flooded most lower parts of the CBD”, said a resident.
Businesses had tried to stop the water by blocking doorways with sand bags, but this did not stop the water from seeping into the shops.
So far, 25 people have died, with one person missing and R3,3 billion in damages has been incurred during the current summer season.
Source: News24
