A person walks past flooding in Clare Estate outside of Durban, South Africa, on Monday, April 18.
In pictures: Deadly floods wreak havoc in South Africa
A person walks past flooding in Clare Estate outside of Durban, South Africa, on Monday, April 18.
Rajesh Jantilal/AFP/Getty Images

Updated 1526 GMT (2326 HKT) April 20, 2022

Heavy rains and flooding hit the eastern coast of South Africa, killing hundreds of people while damaging homes and destroying roads.

The flooding hit the province of KwaZulu-Natal, which includes the coastal city of Durban. Roads cracked and gave way to deep fissures. A huge stack of shipping containers collapsed into muddy waters. A bridge was swept away, leaving people stranded on either side.

In a statement posted to Facebook, the provincial government called it "one of the worst weather storms in the history of our country."

Teams have been working to evacuate areas that experienced "mudslides, flooding and structural collapses of buildings and roads," Sipho Hlomuka, a member of the Executive Council for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs in KwaZulu-Natal, said on Twitter.

A search-and-rescue team carries out an airlift near Durban on Tuesday, April 19.
A search-and-rescue team carries out an airlift near Durban on Tuesday, April 19.
Rogan Ward/Reuters
A search-and-rescue team attempts to recover a child's body at the Mzinyathi Falls near Durban on April 19.
A search-and-rescue team attempts to recover a child's body at the Mzinyathi Falls near Durban on April 19.
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Volunteers and law enforcement workers pack water supplies at a search-and-rescue center in Durban on April 18.
Volunteers and law enforcement workers pack water supplies at a search-and-rescue center in Durban on April 18.
Rajesh Jantilal/AFP/Getty Images
People help clean debris in the Kwandengezi township outside Durban on Friday, April 15.
People help clean debris in the Kwandengezi township outside Durban on Friday, April 15.
Phil Magakoe/AFP/Getty Images
People stand next to the remains of a house in the Kwandengezi township on April 15.
People stand next to the remains of a house in the Kwandengezi township on April 15.
Phill Magakoe/AFP/Getty Images
Sports fields are underwater in Durban on April 15.
Sports fields are underwater in Durban on April 15.
Marco Longari/AFP/Getty Images
Residents collect clean water from a broken pipe on the side of a road in Amaoti on Thursday, April 14.
Residents collect clean water from a broken pipe on the side of a road in Amaoti on Thursday, April 14.
Marco Longari/AFP/Getty Images
Destruction is seen at Umdloti Beach near Durban on April 14.
Destruction is seen at Umdloti Beach near Durban on April 14.
Marco Longari/AFP/Getty Images
People drag a carpet into the sun to dry after their home was flooded in Isipingo Beach.
People drag a carpet into the sun to dry after their home was flooded in Isipingo Beach.
Rogan Ward/Reuters
Volunteers work to clean up debris at the Blue Lagoon beach in Durban on April 14.
Volunteers work to clean up debris at the Blue Lagoon beach in Durban on April 14.
Rajesh Jantilal/AFP/Getty Images
The Sapref sports center is partially submerged in Isipingo Beach.
The Sapref sports center is partially submerged in Isipingo Beach.
Phill Magakoe/AFP/Getty Images
People wash their clothes as others work to rebuild a damaged home in Durban on April 14.
People wash their clothes as others work to rebuild a damaged home in Durban on April 14.
Phill Magakoe/AFP/Getty Images
This grave site withstood damage after a cemetery flooded in Ntuzuma on April 13.
This grave site withstood damage after a cemetery flooded in Ntuzuma on April 13.
Rogan Ward/Reuters
Residents stand in front of their damaged home in the Bhambayi township on April 13.
Residents stand in front of their damaged home in the Bhambayi township on April 13.
Rajesh Jantilal/AFP/Getty Images
A rainbow crosses the sky in Inanda on April 13.
A rainbow crosses the sky in Inanda on April 13.
Rogan Ward/Reuters
Displaced people from the Phoenix township take part in an afternoon prayer on April 13. They took refuge at the Sastri Park Hall after the flooding.
Displaced people from the Phoenix township take part in an afternoon prayer on April 13. They took refuge at the Sastri Park Hall after the flooding.
Rajesh Jantilal/AFP/Getty Images
Debris surrounds homes in the Bhambayi township on April 13.
Debris surrounds homes in the Bhambayi township on April 13.
Rajesh Jantilal/AFP/Getty Images
People grieve at a church in Clermont after four children died following heavy rains and floods. Mmeli Sokhela, center, lost four children when the church collapsed onto his home.
People grieve at a church in Clermont after four children died following heavy rains and floods. Mmeli Sokhela, center, lost four children when the church collapsed onto his home.
Phill Magakoe/AFP/Getty Images
A man in Clermont salvages the remains of what used to be part of the United Methodist Church of South Africa.
A man in Clermont salvages the remains of what used to be part of the United Methodist Church of South Africa.
Phill Magakoe/AFP/Getty Images
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, center, visits Clermont on April 13. He spoke to various people grieving at the United Methodist Church of South Africa.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, center, visits Clermont on April 13. He spoke to various people grieving at the United Methodist Church of South Africa.
Phill Magakoe/AFP/Getty Images
People work outside the damaged church in Clermont.
People work outside the damaged church in Clermont.
Phill Magakoe/AFP/Getty Images
Sokhela reacts during Ramaphosa's visit on April 13.
Sokhela reacts during Ramaphosa's visit on April 13.
Rogan Ward/Reuters
Children sit on part of the damaged church during Ramaphosa's visit.
Children sit on part of the damaged church during Ramaphosa's visit.
Rogan Ward/Reuters
A road is destroyed near Durban on April 13.
A road is destroyed near Durban on April 13.
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A worker cleans up a tanker that washed up on a Durban beach on April 12.
A worker cleans up a tanker that washed up on a Durban beach on April 12.
Darren Stewart/Gallo Images/Getty Images
A woman stands at her front door after heavy rains caused flood damage in Durban.
A woman stands at her front door after heavy rains caused flood damage in Durban.
Rogan Ward/Reuters
A road in Pinetown was washed away by floodwaters on April 12.
A road in Pinetown was washed away by floodwaters on April 12.
Darren Stewart/Gallo Images/Getty Images
A municipal worker uses a chainsaw to cut branches off a tree that fell onto a car in Pinetown on April 12.
A municipal worker uses a chainsaw to cut branches off a tree that fell onto a car in Pinetown on April 12.
Phill Magakoe/AFP/Getty Images
Waves hit a damaged fuel tanker at the Blue Lagoon beach in Durban on April 12.
Waves hit a damaged fuel tanker at the Blue Lagoon beach in Durban on April 12.
Rajesh Jantilal/AFP/Getty Images
Members of the Ethekwini Metro Fire Department search for a person believed to be trapped after a mudslide caused a house to collapse in Durban on April 12.
Members of the Ethekwini Metro Fire Department search for a person believed to be trapped after a mudslide caused a house to collapse in Durban on April 12.
Rajesh Jantilal/AFP/Getty Images
Shipping containers are washed away in Durban on April 12.
Shipping containers are washed away in Durban on April 12.
Rogan Ward/Reuters
People walk across a makeshift bridge after a bridge was swept away in Ntuzuma on April 12.
People walk across a makeshift bridge after a bridge was swept away in Ntuzuma on April 12.
Str/AP
Jomba Phiri walks over to where his house once stood in Durban.
Jomba Phiri walks over to where his house once stood in Durban.
Rogan Ward/Reuters
People begin cleaning up damage in Durban on April 12.
People begin cleaning up damage in Durban on April 12.
Rogan Ward/Reuters
A volunteer hands two loaves of bread to a man in Durban on April 12.
A volunteer hands two loaves of bread to a man in Durban on April 12.
Rajesh Jantilal/AFP/Getty Images
Part of the N2 highway is flooded in Durban on April 12.
Part of the N2 highway is flooded in Durban on April 12.
Rogan Ward/Reuters
A rescue worker walks with a man who was helped from a flooded workplace near Umlazi on April 12.
A rescue worker walks with a man who was helped from a flooded workplace near Umlazi on April 12.
Phill Magakoe/AFP/Getty Images
A river runs around a damaged bridge on April 12 after heavy rains destroyed it near Durban.
A river runs around a damaged bridge on April 12 after heavy rains destroyed it near Durban.
Str/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
People search for salvageable items on the beach in Durban on April 12.
People search for salvageable items on the beach in Durban on April 12.
Rogan Ward/Reuters