South Africa closes all beaches, cites public safety after heavy rains

All beaches have been closed in the South African port city of Durban following heavy rains that affected the seawater near the coast.

The two-day rains washed logs and other debris into the sea. Meanwhile shark nets at most beaches were damaged, making beaches unsafe for public use, authorities said.

Residents have, however, been allowed to enjoy other activities along the beach that do not require them to come into contact with seawater.

KwaZulu-Natal province’s disaster management teams said they evacuated several people whose homes were damaged by the rain.

Efforts are underway to fix the nets and infrastructure that were damaged by the torrential downpours in parts of the province.

The South African Weather Service had on Monday issued a storm warning for disruptive rains, which led to the flooding.

At least 11 people were killed after heavy rain and winds hit the Western Cape province last month.

Two schoolchildren were also swept away by the raging waters due to the heavy rains.