Search continues for child swept away in Ngwavuma floods

The Department of Cooperative Governance in the province says emergency crews evacuated around 100 people trapped in flooded areas when torrential rains lashed Newcastle and uMhlathuze over the weekend. 

The department's Nonala Ndlovu says about 70 families whose homes were badly damaged in Newcastle were moved to a safe place. 

Mop-up operations will continue on Monday.

 "The areas of Umkhanyakude, Umzimnyathi and Amajuba has been the hardest hit at the moment with areas including Newcastle town," says Ndlovu. 

"We continue to urge communities to exercise upmost caution and to call for help when in distress. Disaster management teams have been deployed to conduct assessments and to determine the magnitude and extend of damages and to mobilise resources where required."