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- Five people died and several others are missing following a flash flood in Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal.
- According to police reports, the riverbank along Bell's Spruit collapsed on Christmas Eve.
- The flooding caused severe damage to roads.
Five people were killed and at least 11 others have been reported missing after multiple cars were swept away by a flash flood in Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, on 24 December.
Preliminary police reports indicate that the riverbank along Bell's Spruit collapsed just before midnight on Sunday, leading to heavy flooding in the area.
KwaZulu-Natal Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) MEC Bongiwe Sithole-Moloi said on Monday afternoon five bodies had been recovered while six other people remain missing.
On Christmas Day, the MEC's spokesperson Siboniso Mngadi said the number of missing people had increased to 11.
"The number changed later as families came forward and indicated that more people could have been in the cars [that were washed away]," he said.
Search-and-rescue efforts are continuing throughout Christmas Day.
Photos and videos of the damage have been circulating on social media, showing severe damage to roads and vehicles.
Some homes also suffered damage.
The province issued disaster relief to all those affected.
"This disaster has caused damage to homes and flooded roads and has impacted several businesses. The road infrastructure and vehicles have also suffered significant damage," Sithole-Moloi said.
"It is with a heavy heart that, during a time when most families come together to celebrate Christmas, some families have tragically lost their loved ones. We extend our deepest condolences to all the families and friends affected by this devastating incident.
"We would also like to express our sincere gratitude for the dedication of our disaster response teams and partners who have been working on the ground since the incident occurred."
The provincial Cogta said that, according to the SA Weather Service, above-normal rainfall is expected this summer.
"We therefore caution all residents to remain vigilant throughout the summer and heed to weather alerts issued from time to time. Our disaster response team will remain on high alert to respond to any eventuality," the department added.
