KZN residents evacuated after storms hit

Hundreds of people have been evacuated from their homes in KwaZulu-Natal after driving rain and strong winds battered large parts of the province.

In the uMhlathuze municipality in the north of KwaZulu-Natal‚ bridges were swamped by torrents of fast-flowing water - leading officials to call for extreme caution when on the roads.

Municipal spokesman Mdu Ncalane said: "City of uMhlathuze disaster teams are hard at work evacuating community members at risk of being affected by localised floods. More than 200 people have been evacuated from uMzingwenya‚ Dube Village and Port Dunford.

Few cases are reported at eNseleni and Mandlanzini." Roads‚ including the main John Ross Highway that links Richards Bay and Empangeni‚ were closed on Sunday. Food and blankets were organised for Sunday night‚ said Ncalane.

"Teams are urging community members to cooperate with evacuation orders."

There had been no reports of injuries or deaths‚ he told TMG Digital on Sunday night.

Downpours have hit KZN since Friday night‚ often accompanied by driving winds.