Woman’s Body Recovered from Pinetown River Amid KZN Flooding

Paramedics in KwaZulu-Natal have recovered the body of a woman from the Pinetown River following heavy rains and severe flooding in the province. The incident occurred as emergency services responded to multiple collisions and reports of vehicles being swept away by floodwaters.

According to Bianca White, a volunteer paramedic with Mobi-Claw 911, the woman’s body was recovered just after 12:30 am. Residents in the area reported hearing screams as her car was washed away. The woman, a pharmacist working in Hillcrest, was on her way home when the tragedy occurred.

“We were about to call it a night when something told us to make one more loop. That led us to Gordon Road, where we found a car washed away near the river. As we turned, we spotted the vehicle,” White told eNCA. The eThekwini Fire Department assisted in the recovery effort, locating the woman’s body in the river.

The flooding comes after the South African Weather Service (Saws) issued a Level 6 warning for disruptive rain and flooding in KZN. Garrith Jamieson, spokesperson for ALS Paramedics, reported that medics were overwhelmed with incidents, including two cars reportedly swept away near Stapleton Road.

Paramedics in KwaZulu-Natal have recovered a woman’s body from the Pinetown River amid heavy rains and heavy flooding in the province. #KZN #Flooding Vid: ALS Paramedics: @TheCitizen_News pic.twitter.com/7tMM3r3Enu

— 𝙵𝚊𝚒𝚣𝚎𝚕 𝙿𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚕 (@FaizelPatel143) March 14, 2025

“The river on Stapleton Road is flowing rapidly at full capacity. Initial reports suggest two vehicles were washed away upstream toward the M7 near Winston Churchill, but this cannot be confirmed. One vehicle remains unaccounted for,” Jamieson said. Rescue efforts were halted due to dangerous conditions, with teams planning to resume the search at first light.

Residents and motorists in Pietermaritzburg and surrounding areas have been urged to exercise extreme caution following heavy rainfall on Thursday, which caused severe flooding and road blockages. Several roads, including Orthmann Road, were affected, leading to significant traffic delays.

In Howick, the R617 and Mandela Drive in Mpophomeni were flooded, with water reaching taxi ranks and forcing vehicles to navigate through treacherous conditions.

Floods have already brought devastation to KZN this year, including the destruction of homes and the loss of 11 lives in March. Other provinces have also been affected by heavy rains. Earlier this month, Johannesburg residents described the horror of “terrible rain and wind” that caused flooding in areas such as Randpark Ridge, Newlands, Strubens Valley, Weltevredenpark, Jukskei Park, and Witkoppen Road.

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Sourced:The Citizen