Amcor Dam Road Closure: Floodwaters Disrupt Traffic and Impact Community Amid KZN’s Heavy Rains

Amcor Dam Road Closure: Floodwaters Disrupt Traffic and Impact Community Amid KZN's Heavy Rains

The recent rainfall has brought a sense of relief after concerns about water security following the heatwave that beat down on KwaZulu-Natal during December 2024. However, the rain has not come without damage and interruption to traffic flow.

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On Thursday morning, 9 January 2025, Amcor Dam flooded a section of Umfolozi Street, causing traffic officials to corner the area from motorists travelling along the popular road.

According to a traffic official on the scene, the Newcastle Municipality temporarily closed the road as the water current was relatively strong, making it unsafe to cross by vehicle or foot.

Adding to this, a total of 259 individuals within the community have already been impacted, prompting the Newcastle Disaster Management Office to dispatch teams to the affected regions.

As articulated by the Newcastle Municipality’s Communications Unit, the intense rainfall on Monday, 6 January 2025, and Tuesday, 7 January 2025, triggered widespread flooding across several locales within the municipality’s boundaries, including Madadeni, Osizweni, and Blaauwbosch.

“In response to the flooding, the Newcastle Disaster Management Office promptly dispatched teams to the affected areas. As of this update, 32 households have been affected with 12 totally destroyed structures and 57 partially damaged structures. The people affected consist of 48 men, 65 women, 127 children, two people with disabilities, and 17 senior citizens, with no injuries or fatalities reported,” stated the Communications Unit.

According to the Municipality, its Technical Services team has been assessing the damage, working non-stop to clear blocked drains and mitigate further flooding. Moreover, the Municipality stated it has mobilised resources to assist households experiencing roof damage and other flood-related issues, ensuring that affected residents receive the necessary support.

“The Newcastle Municipality is committed to ongoing assessments and will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available. Residents are urged to remain cautious and report any further incidents to their ward councillors, members of ward committees, or alternatively, call our Disaster Management Office on 079 442 4489/063 257 8624,” concluded the Communications Unit.

While Newcastle contends with the aftermath of this severe weather, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (KZNCoGTA) has reported that vast swathes of the province are currently dealing with the catastrophic effects of the weather that has plagued KZN since Sunday, 7 January 2025, leading to significant infrastructure damage, extensive power outages, and the tragic loss of human life.

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The MEC for KZN CoGTA, Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi, has expressed profound condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives, including:

  • Six-year-old Banele Mpungose, who tragically died in KwaMpofu near Eshowe after a lightning strike on Sunday, 4 January.
  • Lwandle Pasi, 22, from Darnal in KwaDukuza, and Siyabonga Mavundla from Ohwebede area in Mandeni, who drowned in separate incidents

As further downpours are expected across the province on Wednesday, 8 January 2025, KZN CoGTA stated, “Residents are urged to remain vigilant as inclement weather conditions are expected to continue. Motorists are strongly advised to exercise extreme caution on the roads due to slippery conditions.”

With these severe weather conditions wreaking havoc across KZN, what are your thoughts on the situation? Share your views in the comment section below.

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