Two feared dead in storm

2004-02-15 18:52

Pietermaritzburg - One person has drowned and another is missing after being washed away by a flooded stream near Dalton in the KwaZulu-Natal midlands, police reported on Sunday.

Captain Joshua Gwala said a 17-year-old boy was washed away when he tried to cross the Mbodlongo stream on Saturday afternoon.

The incident was reported to police on Sunday morning, and they immediately started a search for the missing young man, said Gwala.

During the search they found the body of a 50-year-old woman, Jabulisiwe Zondi, who was believed to have been washed away in the same stream.

The search for the missing boy was continuing, said Gwala.

Houses damaged

The provincial agriculture department reported on Sunday that a severe storm hit northern KwaZulu-Natal causing damage to houses and farms in Muden and surrounding areas.

Spokesperson Lennox Mabaso said the storm, which started on Saturday night and ended Sunday morning, had damaged crops and two pumps that supplied water for irrigation. Bridges had also been washed away.

He said initial reports estimated the damage to agriculture at more than R100 000.

Agriculture MEC Dumisani Makhaye had sent officials to the area to assess the situation and the department would follow the necessary procedures when assisting the affected communities, Mabaso said.

In the meantime, the social welfare department would intervene with immediate relief such as temporary shelter, food and water.

The local government department has to assess the impact of the damage and decide whether to proclaim the vicinity a disaster area, Mabaso said.

- SAPA