One person dies in South African snow traffic back-up
( Source: Jacaranda FM )
A woman died after being stuck overnight in one of scores of vehicles trapped in unusually heavy snowfall in South Africa with traffic still backed up for around 30 kilometres (19 miles) early Sunday, nearly two days after the first people were stranded, authorities said.
Cars, buses and trucks became stuck in heavy snow on Friday in the east of the country with the key N3 route linking Johannesburg and the east coast city of Durban one of the roads most severely affected.
A 39-year-old woman died from hypothermia in hospital on Saturday after spending Friday night with other passengers in a minibus taxi stranded by the weather, Midlands EMS emergency services operations manager Roland Robertson told AFP.
The travellers had been stopped near the town of Mooiplaas about 430 kilometres (270 miles) from Johannesburg.
"They were exposed to the cold and everything the whole night, with no blankets, no anything. They weren't prepared for what happened," Robertson told the ENCA broadcaster. "Unfortunately she did demise at the hospital later."
While some inland areas of South Africa often receive dustings of snow during their winter, heavy snow falls are rare. Unconfirmed media reports spoke of two metres falling in some areas.
Recovery operations were continuing under extremely challenging conditions Sunday with a backlog around Van Reenen's Pass in the Drakensberg mountains, about 330 kilometres southeast of Johannesburg, said the N3 Toll Concession which manages the route.
Cars were being escorted out of the area but abandoned and broken-down vehicles, some of which were four abreast, were making it difficult for road graders to clear the snow and for search and rescue teams to reach people still stranded, operations manager Thania Dhoogra said.
"The latest report we have is that there is an approximately 30-kilometre backlog of traffic that’s currently impenetrable," she told ENCA news.
The authorities have not yet been able to say how many people or vehicles were in total stranded on the roads by the snow.
UPDATE: Efforts to rescue motorists stranded along N3 underway
Multi-disciplinary rescue operations are underway, but severe weather and dangerous driving conditions continue to hamper traveling between KwaZulu-Natal to Gauteng.
Van Reenen’s Pass remains closed to traffic due to adverse weather conditions creating dangerous driving conditions.
On Saturday morning, a total road closure remained in effect between Estcourt in KwaZulu-Natal and Harrismith in the Free State.
“Emergency teams are attempting to clear thick snow and remove obstructions from the roadway in order to reach stranded road users and restore mobility as soon as it’s safe to do so. These are extremely difficult operations complicated by the current route and weather conditions,” says N3 Toll Concession spokesperson Thania Dhoogra.
Humanitarian groups have provided assistance and relief to stranded motorists.
The area most affected by the adverse weather conditions extends from Lion’s River to Warden, and the road from Estcourt to Harrismith is completely closed to traffic.
“Wilge Plaza is also closed for the safety of users and responding emergency users. Please avoid travel in these areas to avoid compounding the already dire situation,” Dhoogra added.
Meanwhile, in Gauteng, emergency services remain on high alert as the cold weather conditions grip the province.
Johannesburg EMS spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi says no incidents were reported by Saturday morning.
“Residents are encouraged to exercise caution while using heating devices, and not leave them unattended, so we can avoid fire incidents which may occur as a result of these extremely cold weather conditions,” says Mulaudzi.
Ice and heavy snow close some of South Africa’s border posts:
The Commissioner of the Border Management Authority (BMA), Dr Michael Masiapato has issued a notice to travellers that in light of the persistent snowfall, the conditions leading to some Ports of Entry have become unsafe.
Given the situation, the BMA and stakeholders operating at the ports, have taken a decision to close theSani Pass, Boesmansnek and Monontsha ports of entry for operations today until further notice. This precaution is taken to ensure the safety of travelers, tourists and officials, as the current conditions pose a significant danger.
“Travellers are advised that Ficksburg port, Caledonspoort, Makhaleng as well as Maseru Ports of entry can be used as alternatives to enter Lesotho,” said BMA spokesperson Mmemme Mogotsi on Saturday morning.
Meanwhile, Van Reenen’s pass remains closed to traffic due to adverse weather conditions creating dangerous driving conditions.
On Saturday morning, a total road closure remained in effect between Estcourt in KwaZulu-Natal and Harrismith in the Free State.
WATCH: Snow and icy, wet weather leaves motorists stranded along Van Reenen’s Pass:
More heavy snowfall has been reported on the N3 Toll Route along Van Reenen Pass.
Van Reenen’s pass remains closed to traffic due to adverse weather conditions creating dangerous driving conditions.
On Saturday morning, a total road closure remained in effect between Estcourt in KwaZulu-Natal and Harrismith in the Free State.
Wilge Plaza in Villiers has also been closed and will remain inaccessible until road incident management teams have been able to clear the roadway and determine that conditions are safe enough to open the route to traffic.
Icy conditions, wet weather, and poor visibility have also been reported along other sections of the route causing dangerous driving conditions from KwaZulu-Natal through the Free State, the southern parts of Mpumalanga and Gauteng.
Motorists have been urged to avoid all travel to the region.
“Disaster management teams are working around the clock to reach crash scenes, emergency incidents, and stranded road users.
“N3TC appeals to all motorists to head the warnings and avoid all travel to the area until further notice, to avoid compounding the current dire situation that many stranded road users have found themselves in,” said the toll concession’s Thania Dhoogra.
MOTORISTS STUCK ON THE N3 IN EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS
The N3 Toll Concession says due to heavy snowfall and conditions that have become treacherous, the route remains closed from Estcourt in KZN to Harrismith in the Free State - with Van Reenen's Pass shut, and various other lanes closed.
Malcom Hendricks who is travelling back to Durban from Rustenburg with work colleagues says the road seemed clear until they reached Bergview.
"The snow got really heavy, we tried to carry on down towards Montrose and to have another stop over there. On the way we were stuck for about half an hour, there were incidents on the road from about 9 o’ clock last night until now."
His colleague says they were not given any indication beforehand despite seeing emergency vehicles along the route.
"When we left Bergview, the road was open and there were police and emergency services but not once did they stop the people and say go back. So, everyone rode and rode until we just came to a halt.
"We are fine, we’ve got power and enough fuel. My concern is that there are people here you can see with children and with elderly people. We are not far from Harrismith but we don’t see any small initiative from the Harrismith side, where there are emergency rescue teams."
The weather office, which issued warnings about these severe conditions days ago, says the alerts remain in place.
There is a level 6 warning for disruptive snowfall, resulting in the loss of livestock and crops, over the extreme south-western parts of KZN today.
A similar level 2 alert has been sent out for the province's western region.
There is also a warning for disruptive rainfall which could result in localised flooding in northern KZN.
