South Africa’s Department of Water Affairs and Forestry has given an update on recent flooding in northern KwaZulu-Natal. Major rivers which were affected include Phongolo, Mkuze, Hluhluwe, Mfolozi, Mhlatuze and Tugela. As most of the rain fell over the coastal region these were not seriously affected, apart from closer to the coast.
Only two dams in the region are capable of substantial releases: the Pongolapoort dam on the Phongolo river and the Intshingwayo dam on the Ngagane river. Reports state these were not full and did not receive much rain. Other dams in the affected area have fixed spillways and overflow automatically when full.