Gift of the Givers on standby after floods in KwaZulu-Natal cause devastation.
Ladysmith, South Africa (17 January 2022) – Pietermaritzburg search and rescue and local police saved the lives of 35 people who were trapped due to flooding in Ladysmith on Monday morning.
According to Ward 20 councillor Abbas Warasally, the central business district and the Leonardsville area have been the worst affected.
“Hundred of businesses have been flooded, and residents had to be evacuated.”
“It doesn’t have to rain in Ladysmith for floods to happen. There has been heavy rainfall in the Van Reenen and Bergville area, and the banks of the Klip River had collapsed.”
Warasally said the dam levels had dropped, and clean up operations were underway.
“We are hopeful that the worst is over.”
Imtiaz Sooliman, director of Gift of the Givers, said their aquatic rescue teams were on standby.
“We are on standby and ready if material aid is required. But we haven’t received any requests for assistance, and the water levels have receded substantially.”
Rescue teams in Ladysmith are still working to evacuate people from the flooded areas. The clip captured shows parts of Forbes Street and a group of people being taken to safety.
Watch the video below:
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