Margate, South Africa - April 15, 2024

Storyline:
At least five people have been killed after heavy rain and strong winds battered the resort town of Margate in South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal province on Sunday, with the severe weather toppling trees and inflicting significant damage to infrastructure, cars, homes and businesses.

Margate was left reeling from the vicious storm that hit South Africa's east coast on Sunday evening, causing five fatalities in the town. Three of the victims reportedly drowned when the car they were traveling in was swept into a nearby river.

As the clear-up work continues, authorities sent out a message to all those affected.

Weather warnings came too late as roads turned into raging rivers, uprooting trees, damaging homes, businesses and inflicting damage upon critical power, water and telecommunications infrastructure.

Shell-shocked locals say they are still coming to terms with the disaster as the lengthy recovery process now gets underway.

Disaster relief funds are being mobilized to help those affected by the freak storm in Margate and the surrounding areas, as teams on the ground continue to survey the full extent of the damage.

KwaZulu-Natal province has witnessed a spate of heavy rain and severe flooding in recent years. In 2022, more than 450 people were killed in the region, making it one of South Africa's worst ever natural disasters.

Shotlist:
Margate, Ray Nkonyeni, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa - April 15, 2024:
1. Various of fallen trees, blocked roads, damaged vehicles after rains;
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Bongiwe Sithole-Moloi, KwaZulu-Natal's Member of Executive Council (MEC) for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs:
"We are sending condolences to the families of those people that have passed on. We are also sending our sympathies to those that have been able to be rescued."
3. Various of damaged structures, crushed vehicles, fallen trees;
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Lydia (full name not given), resident (partially overlaid with shots 5-7):
"We are all shocked, cannot believe the devastation. The roads are cracked up and washed away. There's big holes in the ground and we're all living here, in the lower area here. We're worried that we'll never be able to get this back to the way it was."
[SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
5. Damaged car;
6. Floodwater;
7. Damaged road;
[SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
8. Various of damaged buildings, crushed vehicle;
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Bongiwe Sithole-Moloi, KwaZulu-Natal's Member of Executive Council (MEC) for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (ending with shot 10):
"The assessment is continuing because it's not only in Ray Nkonyeni. We are also having some damages in Umzumbe and Umdoni. Teams are on the sites gathering information on how many people and households have been affected and how much that is going to cost."
10. Various of fallen trees, damaged road;
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa - Recent:
11. Various of city in heavy rain, trees blown by wind;
12. Vehicle submerged in floodwater;
13. People standing by fallen trees;
14. Truck moving through floodwater.

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