Date: 26th September 2024, Thursday
Author: Quinz Atdah Qeqe
Country: South Africa
Source: SABC News
SUMMARY
During the past week heavy snowfall blanketed many parts of the KwaZulu-Natal and Free State provinces of South Africa. A level 8 weather warning was announced by the South African Weather Service(SAWS) on the 21st September 2024, with travel alerts and safety guidelines for the residents and motorists within the provinces (Bakharia, 2024). A number of roads including the National Road – N3 between KwaZulu-Natal and the Free state provinces were closed due to the severity of the weather which caused hazardous road conditions. Many motorists travelling through the N3 were stranded during the heavy snowfall, with at least two confirmed deaths of people who suffered from and consequently died as a result of Hypothermia while trapped on the N3 (eNCA News, 2024). Non – governmental organizations such as the Red Cross in collaboration with the South African Police Service(SAPS) and other disaster management teams worked tirelessly to assist in the rescuing of trapped motorists, in addition to to providing relief supplies such as blankets, foods and drinks to those affected by the devastating weather (Masilela, 2024). Locals and motorists were cautioned to avoid travelling while practicing precautionary measures in efforts of ensuring their safety during the icy weather conditions in the provinces.
BACKGROUND
The South African provinces of KwaZulu-Natal and the Free State were recently hit by severe weather conditions of heavy snowfall accompanied by consecutive cold fronts in the past weekend, this despite the fact that South Africa is currently within the warmer spring season.
On the 21st September 2024, the South African Weather Service(SAWS) announced a level 8 weather warning as severe snowfall blanketed many parts of the Free State and KwaZulu-Natal provinces (Bakharia, 2024).
A number of roads such as the R74 of Harrismith to Bergville, R103 and the N3 were closed due to the heavy snowfall which caused hazardous driving conditions (Masilela, 2024). A national alert was announced to all motorists to avoid travelling between Harrismith(Free State) and Tugela Plaza(KwaZulu-Natal) as all traffic along these roads would be brought to a complete halt during the course of the weekend.
By the 20th September 2024, thousands of motorists along the N3 highway were stranded as alternative roads between KwaZulu-Natal and the Free State were closed. Some motorists had to brace the freezing weather conditions for hours until disaster management and emergency services arrived with relief supplies such as blankets, food and drinks. According to IOL News(2024) some military experts and police members who were deployed to assist in the relief effort of those trapped on the N3 were stuck on the roads due to the unfavourable weather conditions.
Emergency rescue missions continued into Sunday 22nd September 2024, where efforts to rescue the motorists trapped in the snow which blanketed the N3 were under way. The acting Premier of KwaZulu-Natal Thembeni Madlopha Mthethwa indicated on Sunday that emergency supplies and support teams were dispatched to the affected areas on the N3 (Masilela, 2024). He added that non – governmental organizations(NGOs) such as the Red Cross were collaborating with the South African Police Service(SAPS), the South African National Defence Force(SANDF), fellow NGOs and disaster management teams to provide much needed resources to the affected motorists on the N3.
On Sunday 22nd September 2024, it was confirmed that at least two people had suffered from and consequently died as a result of Hypothermia while trapped on the N3 (eNCA News, 2024).
The heavy snowfall has resulted in the loss of and damage to some infrastructure, this including the disruption of essential services such as water and electricity in affected communities (Pongweni, 2024).
Currently, a number of roads including the N3 have been reopened with the snow been cleared by graders from the roads (Ngcobo, 2024). Motorists who were trapped on the N3 have been successfully rescued and accounted for. The SAWS has indicated that cold weather conditions such as cold fronts and heavy rainfall would be expected into Monday, 23rd September 2024 and throughout the week. Communities within the Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and Gauteng provinces have been advised to be vigilant during the expected cold weather conditions, this while practicing safety guidelines to ensure their overall health and well being.
REFERENCES
1. Bakharia, U. 2024. South African Weather Service Issues Level 8 Warning In Kwazulu-Natal As Snowfall Hits Parts Of The Country. Mail & Guardian. September 21st. https://mg.co.za/news/2024-09-21-south-african-weather-service-issues-level-8-warning-in-kwazulu-natal-as-snowfall-hits-parts-of-the-country/. Date Of Access: 23rd September 2024
2. eNCA News. 2024. KZN Weather | Death Toll Increases To Two, Govt Urges Travellers To Delay Trips. September 22nd. https://www.enca.com/top-stories/kzn-weather-death-toll-increases-two-govt-urges-travellers-delay-trips. Date Of Access: 23rd September 2024
3. eNCA News. 2024. Snow In South Africa | Two People Have Died From Hypothermia. September 22nd. https://www.enca.com/news/snow-south-africa-two-people-have-died-hypothermia. Date Of Access: 23rd September 2024
4. IOL News. 2024. Thousands Of Commuters Stuck In Freezing Conditions And Snow. September 22nd. https://www.iol.co.za/sunday-tribune/news/thousands-of-commuters-stuck-in-freezing-conditions-and-snow-ba7eafe4-774e-42b5-bf35-27ac80cbf3f7. Date Of Access: 23rd September 2024
5. Masilela, S. 2024. Multiple Roads Closed As Motorists Are Trapped In Snow In Kwazulu-Natal, Free State. IOL News. September 21st. https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/gauteng/multiple-roads-closed-as-motorists-are-trapped-in-snow-in-kwazulu-natal-free-state-ee1bbb9b-1608-48ee-ae08-3c13d4aef2b6. Date Of Access: 23rd September 2024
6. Masilela, S. 2024. Snow In KZN: Rescue Missions Still Under Way For Motorists Stuck On The N3 As Graders Battle With Heavy Snow. IOL News. September 23rd. https://www.iol.co.za/news/weather/snow-in-kzn-rescue-missions-still-under-way-for-motorists-stuck-on-the-n3-as-graders-battle-with-heavy-snow-a9ff7aaf-19a6-4a6a-a74e-a94daa8297ae#Google vignette. Date Of Access: 23rd September 2024
7. Masilela, S. 2024. Two Die From Hypothermia After Being Trapped On The N3 In KZN As Snow Is Expected To Clear From Monday. IOL News. September 23rd. https://www.iol.co.za/news/weather/two-die-from-hypothermia-after-being-trapped-on-the-n3-in-kzn-as-snow-is-expected-to-clear-from-monday-6d788f17-b7c4-462a-8e24-849ac1247a6c. Date Of Access: 23rd September 2024
8. Ngcobo, K. 2024. N3 Reopened And Flowing After Weekend Snow Storm. TimesLive. September 23rd. https://www-timeslive-co-za.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.timeslive.co.za/amp/news/south-africa/2024-09-23-n3-reopened-and-flowing-after-weekend-snow-storm-that-left-two-dead/?amp_js_v=0.1&_gsa=1#webview=1. Date Of Access: 23rd September 2024
9. Pongweni, T. 2024. Authorities Start Clearing More Than 1,800 Vehicles Trapped By Heavy Snowfalls On N3. Daily Maverick. September 22nd. https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-09-22-kzn-hit-with-snow-warning-n3-still-closed-at-van-reenens-pass/. Date Of Access: 23rd September 2024
10. Pongweni, T. 2024. ‘It Is A Nightmare’ – Motorists Tell Of Hellish 14 Hours Stuck In Bitter Cold, But Progress Made Clearing Roads. Daily Maverick. September 21st. https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-09-21-avoid-all-travel-motorists-urged-to-delay-holiday-plans-as-black-ice-and-snow-shut-down-major-routes/. Date Of Access: 23rd September 2024
11. SABC News. 2024. People Stand Around As They Vehicles Remain Stuck In The Snow. (Image). September 21st. https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/one-person-dies-from/. Date Of Access: 23rd September 2024.
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