The arrival of a cold front, combined with the Tropical Cyclone Irina, has resulted in heavy rains within the eThekwini Municipal area. Main incidents reported include localised flooding due to the clogging of water drainage systems, high wave levels, vehicle accidents and traffic light failure.
Bathing at beaches and rivers has been banned due to the discolouration and contamination of water and the rising of wave heights, which were recorded to be up to 3m high this morning. Because of the high tides, shark nets have also been shifted, which may increase chances of shark attack to bathers.
The Metro Police have warned motorists to exercise due care when driving, because of the low visibility rate and localised flooding on some of the roads. This would entail keeping a good following distance, watching out for huge puddles and debris, being cautious when approaching bridges and roads that are in the vicinity of flooded areas and treating defective robots as four-way stops.
No people have been evacuated. However, the situation is being monitored and 13 Municipal buses are on standby to assist with evacuation, if the need arises. Various temporary shelters have also been identified.
The Municipality wishes to dispell messages sent via social media networks that some parts of the City are flooded to the point where vehicles are floating in water. This is incorrect and the Municipality is monitoring the situation throughout the City.
The emergency number for people to call, should they require assistance is 031 361 0000.
Footage of Durban’s beachfront during tropical cyclone Irina on Sunday 4th March 2012. Filmed by Anton Herrington, Tekweni TV Productions.
NASA sees tropical storm Irina hit by wind shear, headed for Mozambique
NASA’s Aqua satellite’s MODIS instrument captured this infrared image of Tropical Cyclone Irina now over the Mozambique Channel on March 2, 2012 at 1041 UTC (5:41 am EST). Irina is almost half-way to Mozambique, where it is expected to make landfall …
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