Heavy snowfall leads to road closures – DW – 21.09.2024

Heavy snowfall caused significant disruption in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal on Saturday.

Motorists had to spend the night in their vehicles as one of the country's main roads, the N3, was covered with an unusually thick blanket of snow.

Roads in the area have been closed and traffic authorities have asked motorists to postpone their journeys and avoid the area.

Part of the N3 motorway closed

“Heavy snowfall continues to cover the N3 highway, particularly between Warden and Tugela Plaza in KwaZulu-Natal, making travel extremely dangerous,” the South African Department of Transport said in a statement.

“The ministry is deeply concerned about the situation, particularly as many travellers were stranded overnight at petrol stations and along the N3 and were unable to move due to the road closures,” the ministry said, adding that various emergency services had been dispatched to the area.

Authorities said no deaths or injuries have been reported so far.

Road safety organisation Arrive Alive warned that visibility along the N3 was poor and cold and wet weather would continue.

“The risk of further snowfall and black ice formation remains high as temperatures drop overnight,” the group warned, publishing a series of posts on X showing the extent of the snowfall.

The South African Border Services Agency said three border posts with the Kingdom of Lesotho had been closed because “current conditions pose a significant risk.”

Many road users posted videos on social media showing cars, trucks and minibuses stuck in deep snow.

Driver Muhammad Goolam told Newzroom Afrika that he and his children spent the night in his car outside the town of Harrismith, 270 kilometers southeast of Johannesburg.

“After 13 hours, the food supplies have run out, I don't think we can get out of here without help from rescue workers,” he said.

N3, one of South Africa's busiest routes

The N3 is one of South Africa's main roads and is used to transport goods to and from the port city of Durban.

The route is one of the busiest road freight corridors in the country, carrying millions of tonnes of freight.

The South African Weather Service issued severe weather warnings for the region, warning that heavy snowfall could create life-threatening conditions and lead to livestock and crop losses.

The weather service warned that mountain passes were closed in several areas and some communities were temporarily inaccessible.

This article uses material from AFP.