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KZN Wave Damage
KZN experienced extreme damage recently due to waves taking over! The surf really battered the coastline and caused havoc. The beaches were closed for a number of days. Although no figures have been published, the damage has been costly. “A high figure†is all that was offered. The beach needs rehabilitation, roads need to be examined and so do electrical cables and water pipes. Debris had to be cleared from the beach and the parking lot. The damage was estimated at around half a billion rand.
The swells which caused all the havoc recorded at between 6m and 8m. These massive waves then pounded down on the beach in the morning, but by evening had dissipated as the gale-force winds dropped. The following day the swell had dropped to between 2m and 3m.
One life had been claimed the first day of this anarchy, at Shelley Beach on the KZN South Coast. This man, age 30, was one of the helpers who actually helped launch the ski-boats at the Shelley Beach Ski-Boat Club. He is believed to have been a homeless man who lived in the bushes along the coast and so was caught by the unusually high tide. He has believed to have drowned, and his body then found by a woman taking a walk along the beach.
The harbour has remained open to small vessels but closed to larger incoming traffic. Although numerous small vessels were seen leaving the port in calm, sunny weather, there were 31 vessels waiting to come into port.
Rescue workers, emergency personnel, SAPS, local people of KZN were all thanked for their assistance. Because of the team-effort the loss of life was minimised.
Insurance claims have been extreme. Insurance companies are saying they have received over R2, 5 billion in claims thus far. Not only homes along the coast were affected, but also buildings inland were damaged by the heavy storm weather.
Thousands of people flocked to the beaches to see the phenomenon of the huge swells, but many areas were cordoned off by authorities to avoid tragedy.
Everything is being done to restore the beaches and any damage caused as quickly as possible.