At least 45 dead in S Africa floods

At least 45 people have died in floods and mudslides after rainstorms struck the South African port city of Durban and surrounding KwaZulu-Natal province, the authorities said yesterday. "The latest reports indicate that over 45 people have lost their lives as a result of the heavy rains, this number could possibly increase as more reports come in," the province's Department of Cooperative Governance announced in a statement. Days of pounding rain flooded several areas and shut dozens of roads across the southeastern city, while landslips caused train services across KwaZulu-Natal to be suspended. Video footage shared by private emergency and rescue workers and paramedics showed flooded city highways, submerged cars and collapsed houses. The disaster management department in KwaZulu-Natal province urged people to stay at home and ordered those residing in low-lying areas to move to higher ground.