As KwaZulu-Natal residents endure disruptive rain and possible flooding, there have been reports that two cars have been washed away by river water in Pinetown.
Garrith Jamieson of ALS Paramedics said the need for emergency services has risen amid the wet weather with multiple collisions having been reported.
"There are reports of two vehicles that have been washed away in the Pinetown area, in the West of Durban. Initial reports are that in the two vehicles that were washed away, one had a family and the other had one occupant," Jamieson said.
The incident happened on Stapleton Road by a river. "The river washed further upstream from here towards the M7 near Winston Churchill Drive."
Stapleton Road, Pinetown pic.twitter.com/IkHKgdV5aj
He added that although unconfirmed, one of the vehicles is still unaccounted for.
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In a clip shared by ALS Paramedics, the road is shown to be awash with water, soil, sand, and other debris as the rain continues to pummel the area. Emergency vehicles are in the area in the event of another disaster occurring.
According to Auto & General, motorists should avoid driving in flood situations. One should remember that even 15cm of flowing water can knock you off your feet, and water merely 60cm deep can sweep a vehicle away.
You can risk flooding your vehicle's air intake and causing the engine to stall. Generally, if the water is deeper than the bottom of your doors or the bottom third of your wheels, you should not drive through it.
Flash flooding is common when rivers run across low-lying bridges. Avoid crossing bridges or roads near rivers during heavy rains. If you become trapped on a flooded road, shift to the lowest gear feasible and drive gently.
IOL