Several roads in Kloof were flooded including at Emolweni Road. Picture: Facebook
Image: Facebook
The Upper Highway area of Durban including Pinetown, Hillcrest and Kloof has been severely impacted by flooding due to heavy rains that began on Thursday afternoon.
Residents have been urged to avoid non-essential travel to avoid getting stuck on flooded roads or bridges. ALS Paramedics said it had attended to Stapleton Road in Pinetown after receiving reports that two vehicles had washed away.
ALS Paramedics Garrith Jamieson said while the reports were not yet confirmed, emergency services are at the scene to try to search for the vehicles.
He said the river next to the road was flowing rapidly and the road was waterlogged.
The Durban Metro Police posted on Facebook that the M19 Westbound under the N2 bridge is flooded and currently impassable.
It said several vehicles are already stuck in the water. The police also reported that the N2 under Wandsbeck Road before Westwood Mall is also flooded, with only one lane open to traffic.
The M19 westbound under the N2 bridge is flooded. Picture: Durban Metro Police/Facebook
Image: Durban Metro Police/Facebook
In Kloof, the Metro police said Patrick Duncan Road is currently impassable due to severe flooding.
According to a notice from the Kloof Community Policing Forum on the Upper Highway Information group on Facebook, several roads in the area are flooded.
"We have multiple cars stuck up to window height, and we are doing our best to assess and assist at each location. We also have trees down on multiple roads as well - we won't get to all of them tonight but will danger tape those we can't get to."
The notice said the Kloof Falls Rd through the gorge is closed at Kloof Falls and Ronalds Road. Other reports said that the Kloof Village Mall was also flooded.
The heavy rains come after the South African Weather Service (SAWS) issued a Level 6 warning for severe weather with a high risk of flooding and damage.
The warning is in effect until midnight on Friday, 14 March. The affected municipalities are eThekwini, KwaDukuza, Mkhambathini, Ndwedwe, Ray Nkonyeni, Umdoni, uMuziwabantu and Umzumbe.