The coastal regions of South Africa experienced unseasonably late snowstorms that caused the deaths of two people and the closure of major highways in the region.
The death was caused as a result of hypothermia as the two people were trapped in vehicles stranded by heavy snowfall on the N3 highway, the major path to Durban. A 39-year-old woman was one of the victims, and she was struck in a minibus.
The brunt of the storm affected majorly the provinces of KwaZulu-Natal and Free State. Authorities have also warned of possible flooding as the snow starts to melt, with crops lying under snow for two days.
Emergency teams were everywhere as they gathered efforts to get dozens of vehicles and trucks that were stuck in the snow, providing warm drinks and foods to drivers who had been stranded in the snow for many hours.
Authorities advised motorists to drive with caution in areas that had already been cleared of snow. Schools in KwaZulu-Natal were locked while students and staff were not allowed to go in or out as a precaution, and provincial minister Thulasizwe Buthelez issued a warning to communities lying along the Tugela River that they might face flooding due to melting snow.
The storm has put the region on high alert as authorities continue to do the rescue operations.
“As schools remain closed, parents are urged to keep children away from unguarded bodies of water, including rivers and dams,” Buthelezi said.