Historical Disasters

Information

History of Disasters

Year	Flood Area	Associated Damages
April 1856	From the Mfolozi River to beyond the Mkomazi River in the south	3 bridge failures; Bridges crossing the Msunduze and Dorpspruit river (Pietermaritzburg) and the Mgeni River bridge (Howick Falls), Scouring at the Connaught Bridge (Durban) Widened the channel from 63m to 213m. Landslide/slope failure in the Inanda area. August 1868 Area between the Mvoti and Mkomazi Rivers Bridge failures: Queen's bridges due to scouring and other bridges south of Durban.
December 1874	Area between the Durban and Port Alfred	A bridge failure: Great Fish River bridge.
March 1891	Durban area severly affected	Insufficient documentation
January 1893	Areas north of the Tugela River System	Insufficient documentation
May-June 1905	Area extending form south coast to as far north as Piet Retief.	Bridges across the Mgeni, Ohlanga and Mbilo Rivers were washed away. In the Mbilo valley area the death toll was estimated at 168. The Pinetown reservoir failed.All rail communication disrupted in the Durban area.
April 1908	Kwazulu Natal South	Numerous bridges, railway bridges and embankment failures.
March 1913	The whole coast from the Transkei to the Mfolozi.	Many bridges destroyed, communication cut off north and south of Durban. 8 Railway bridges were damaged: Mpanbanyoni, Umbogintwini, Mdloti, Mvoti, Matigulu, Mhlatuze, Nseleni, Mfolozi.
October 1917	Area between Empangeni (Mhlatuze River) and the Umzumbe in the south.	The earth dam on the Mbilo was breached and destroyed. 9 railway bridge failures;Mhlatuze, Matigulu, Mvoti, Mdloti, Tongati, Mgeni, Mhlatuzana, Lovu and one of three bridges crossing the Mzumbe Rivers. 50 People were drowned in the Sydenham (Durban) area.
February 1918	Area extended from Durban in the south , through northern KwaZulu-Natal, Swaziland and the Mpumalanga in the north.	3 railway bridge failures: Mhlatuze, Matigulu, Tongati. A steel bridge across the Mfolozi River was swept away. Several people killed when houses and hotels were washed away.
March 1925	KwaZulu Natal and Mpumalanga	4 bridge failures: suspension bridge that replaced the bridge which failed in 1918 across the Mfolozi River failed, Mhlatuze, Mvoti and Tugela.
February 1932	Area from Durban to Mkuze	No serious damage caused, however there were a number of washaways.
May 1940	Area between Durban and Nongoma	3 bridge failures: Amatigulu River road and railway bridges, Mlalazi River bridge (approaches).
Sept - Oct 1957	Gesondheid in the Mfolozi River catchment	Insufficient Documentation
May 1959	Southern KwaZulu-Natal and Transkei	17 bridge failures: Bridge over the Mbashee River (approaches), Mzimhlava River bridge, Pondoland bridge over the Mzimvubu River,Gundrift and Mpunizi bridges over the Mtamvuna, Umzimkulu bridge (approaches), Port Shepstone Sugar Mill's suspension bridge and road/railway bridges, Nkonzo River bridge, Mzimkulwana River bridge, Mzumbe road and railway bridge (approaches),Mpambanyoni road and railway bridges (approaches), Lovu River bridge,Richmond-Creighton bridge over the Mkomazi River, railway bridge at the mouth of the Mkomazi (approaches). The Nshongweni Dam was overtopped. 29 landslides/slope failures. Landslides damaged railway lines. More than 60 people were reported killed or missing.
July 1963	Between the Tugela and Pongola Rivers	More than 15000 ha of cane flooded and trees (60-70 years old) were washed away.
February 1974	Countrywide	1 bridge failure: Low level bridge at Doesberg over the Nonoti River.Severe floods occurred in the Nonoti and Mvoti River were 60 people were drown.
March 1976	Along the KwaZulu-Natal and Transkei coast	Numerous bridge failures,road and railway lines were washed away. Damages were estimated at R 50 million. One pier of the Lovu River bridge sunk.
February 1977	KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga	2 bridge failures: Mhlatuze and Mfule. In northern KwaZulu-Natal 10 people were drowned.
April 1978	Area between Kei mouth and Port Shepstone	Pondoland bridge failure (spans). 30 people were reported drowned.
January 1984	Southern Mozambique, Mpumalanga lowveld, Swaziland and northern KwaZulu-Natal.	8 bridge failures. Slope failures at Luneburg and Commondale. According to Kovacs et al (1985), damages were estimated to be more than R100 million in South Africa alone. Photographs illustrating flood davastation caused by the tropical cyclone Domoina.
February 1985	Area from East London to Mpumalanga	1 bridge failure: Mpambanyoni River bridge (spans).Damage of R2 to R3 million was caused to roads and railways. 4 farm dams in the Oribi Gorge area were breached.
September 1987	KwaZulu Natal, Free State	15 bridge failures; approximately 223 slope failures.
February 1988	Cape, Free State and KwaZulu-Natal	2 bridge failures:Mkomazi and Loteni River bridge. Mumerous slope failures.
Nov - Dec 1989	Area the Fafa River to the Ngwavuma River in the north.	Failure of the Thornlea Dam, Mlazi River, slope failures and damages to numerous roads and railways.