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A 33-year-old woman tragically drowned when a taxi was swept away by a swollen river in Utrecht, KwaZulu-Natal; three others in the vehicle managed to escape. (KZN Cogta/Supplied)
- A 33-year-old woman drowned when a taxi was swept away in a flooded river in Utrecht, KwaZulu-Natal.
- There were four people in the taxi at the time.
- Heavy rainfall has caused severe flooding across the province.
A 33-year-old woman drowned in northern KwaZulu-Natal on Wednesday after the taxi she was in was swept away while crossing a flooded river in Utrecht during severe weather conditions.
KwaZulu-Natal Cogta MEC Thulasizwe Buthelezi said there were four people in the taxi at the time.
Rescue workers were dispatched to the scene immediately but efforts to recover the woman's body were unsuccessful, he added.
Search and recovery operations are ongoing.
Severe weather
Heavy rainfall gripped the province this week, causing severe damage throughout the region.
READ | Gauteng emergency teams monitor flood-prone areas, rituals in rivers discouraged during Easter
Buthelezi urged residents to exercise vigilance during the bad weather.
"The provincial Disaster Management Centre continues to assess reports from various districts," he said.
Easter holidays
He also appealed to people "to exercise caution by taking necessary safety precautions and staying informed about weather forecasts" over the Easter holidays.
He said:
While the latest report from the weather service does not predict adverse weather conditions for the province during the Easter weekend, disaster management teams will remain on high alert.
'Be prepared'
Meanwhile, the N3 Toll Concession (N3TC) warned road users to be prepared for wet weather and busy traffic conditions along the N3 Toll Route this Easter.
The N3TC, which manages and operates the N3 Toll Route between Cedara near Hilton in KwaZulu-Natal and Heidelberg in Gauteng, said widespread rain and cold weather conditions could impact traffic movement along the route.
N3TC chief operating officer Thania Dhoogra said adverse weather and increased traffic volumes could result in delays and congestion.
"Please be prepared for every eventuality and ensure you have emergency provisions in your vehicle," said Dhoogra.
Dhoogra added that all road incident management system (RIMS) services had been deployed to strategic locations along the N3 Toll Route over the Easter weekend.
"High blue-light visibility and strict law enforcement should be expected. N3TC will actively monitor and communicate road, traffic and weather conditions," she added.
