The Star E-dition

Ladysmith CBD in state of disaster

ZAINUL DAWOOD

HUNDREDS of people have been accommodated at the Ladysmith Indoor Sports Centre after being evacuated from their homes due to flood waters that covered the Ladysmith central business district in KwaZulu-Natal.

The Klip River burst its banks on Thursday flooding the lower parts of the town in the Alfred Duma Local Municipality. The SA Weather Service forecasts partly cloudy conditions for Ladysmith area until tomorrow.

Yesterday, the K9 Search and Rescue teams from Pietermaritzburg and Ladysmith used rubber boats to evacuate people who lived in homes or flats above or behind stores in the CBD.

The premises of uThukela District Municipality ground level offices were also flooded, disrupting municipal services.

Municipality spokesperson Jabulani Mkhonza said they have begun pumping water out of affected homes, evacuating homes and providing sandbags to residents. Mkhonza said city management was assessing the impact of the flooding.

KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Sipho Hlomuka deployed disaster management teams to start with the evacuation of residents in the town of Ladysmith and Msinga.

Yesterday, Hlomuka said that 70 residents were evacuated from the flooded areas in Ladysmith. KZN Premier Sihle Zikalala declared a state of disaster in parts of the province.

METRO

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2022-01-18T08:00:00.0000000Z

2022-01-18T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://thestar.pressreader.com/article/281573769063581

African News Agency