Massive damage has been inflicted on public and private infrastructure as a result of heavy rainfall across KwaZulu-Natal since the start of the Easter weekend.

More than 20 lives have been lost and thousands of emergency calls logged as a result of the heavy rains and localised flooding, with some rivers having broken their banks.

The extent of damage to infrastructure includes flooded and blocked roads, collapsed buildings and perimeter walls, blocked storm water drains and sewer lines, flooded buildings and households and power outages as a result of electric cable damage.

KwaZulu-Natal Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs reports that, at this stage, the focus remains on recovery and the provision of relief efforts while assessments of damages are underway. Although the cost of the damages will only been known after these assessments have been completed, it is already estimated to run into millions of rands.

Displaced communities are being temporarily accommodated in community halls where they will receive emergency relief assistance, while the province’s disaster management teams work round the clock to attend to all reported incidents.