The bodies of the two remaining victims swept away by flash floods in New Hanover two weeks ago were recovered on Wednesday, bringing an end to an intensive search operation in the uMshwathi Local Municipality.
KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi, confirmed the discovery, describing it as a “decisive moment” in the province’s response to the disaster.
“This morning, two bodies were located in the affected area. Our disaster management teams are currently extracting the remains with the utmost care and dignity,” Buthelezi said.
The severe storm that struck the KZN Midlands on 23 November destroyed dozens of homes and swept away three people while they slept. One victim, a 53-year-old woman, was found the following day. The two others remained missing until Wednesday’s breakthrough.
Identification of the latest bodies will be conducted in full consultation with the families, the MEC added.
Buthelezi said the recovery “brings us closer to closing a very painful chapter” for the New Hanover community, which lost three lives to the extreme weather event.
Senior officials from the Provincial Disaster Management Centre have been deployed to oversee the process and ensure respect for the bereaved families.
The province remains on high alert, with a Level 4 disruptive rain warning in place for parts of KwaZulu-Natal on Wednesday.