S. African flood victims brave rain to search for dead relatives' belongings

Record ID: 1668776

  • Title: S. African flood victims brave rain to search for dead relatives' belongings
  • Date: 16th April 2022
  • Summary: DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA (APRIL 16, 2022) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF DESTROYED HOUSES/RUBBLE / RAIN VARIOUS OF MEN NEAR RUBBLE MEN SEARCHING THROUGH RUBBLE FOR DECEASED RELATIVE’S BELONGINGS DAMAGED BUILDLINGS, DEBRIS ON GROUND/PEOPLE STANDING (SOUNDBITE) (English) OWNER OF DESTROYED PROPERTY, MUZI MZOBE, SAYING: “We phoned the police, we phoned the ambulance, we phoned fire bri
  • Embargoed: 30th April 2022 13:05
  • Keywords: Durban Kwazulu-Natal Province South Africa displaced people floods funeral
  • Location: DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA
  • City: DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Africa,Disaster/Accidents,Floods
  • Reuters ID: LVA001207316042022RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:Residents in South Africa’s coastal city of Durban braved the rain to search through mud and rubble for their dead relatives’ belongings on Saturday (April 16), after heavy floods hit the area.
    Rescue and search operations started on Friday (April 15) to recover bodies swept away by the floods.
    At least 400 people were killed in extremely powerful rains that battered the coast, leaving about 13,600 people homeless and numerous families in mourning for lost relatives.
    The government has mobilized emergency funds to bring relief to the thousands without shelter, power or water - a tragedy experts say will become more common as the climate warms.
    Speaking to Reuters on top of his damaged property, Muzi Mzobe said four of his tenants were killed on Monday (April 11), after hours of trying to call authorities for help, with no success.
    The floods in Kwazulu-Natal Province have knocked out power lines, shut down water services and disrupted operations at one of Africa's busiest ports. More than 40,000 people have been affected by the disaster, authorities say.
    Local resident Gloria Linda, who attended a funeral for a community member killed by the floods, said she is worried because she has no water and electricity and cannot easily communicate with her loved ones.
    Local climate campaigners are calling for greater investment to help communities better prepare for weather shocks.
    (Production: Rogan Ward, Sisipho Skweyiya)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2022. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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