Heavy snowfall caused major disruptions in South AfricaKwaZulu-Natal province on Saturday.
Motorists were forced to spend the night in their cars as one of the country’s main highways, the N3, was covered in an unusually thick layer of snow.
Roads in the area have been closed and traffic authorities have warned motorists to delay their journey and stay away.
Section of N3 motorway closed
“Heavy snow continues to fall on 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 very concerned about the situation, especially as many travellers spent the night stranded at petrol stations and along the N3 and were unable to travel due to road closures,” the department said, adding that several emergency services have been sent to the area.
According to authorities, there have been no deaths or injuries so far.
Road safety organisation Arrive Alive warned that visibility on the N3 was poor and that the cold and wet conditions were expected to continue.
“The potential for further snowfall and freezing rain remains high as temperatures drop overnight,” the group warned, posting a series of messages on X showing the extent of the snowfall.
The South African Border Management Authority said three border posts with the Kingdom of Lesotho have 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.
Motorist Muhammad Goolam told channel Newzroom Afrika that he and his children had spent the night in his car outside the town of Harrismith, 270 kilometres southeast of Johannesburg.
“More than 13 hours, food supplies running out, I don’t think we can drive out of here without emergency services,” he said.
N3 route, one of the busiest in South Africa
The N3 route is one of the most important highways in South Africa, transporting goods to and from the port city of Durban.
The route is one of the country’s busiest freight routes, carrying millions of tons of cargo.
The South African Weather Service has issued weather warnings for the region, warning that the snowfall will cause life-threatening conditions with potential loss of livestock and crops.
The weather service warned that mountain passes were closed in some areas and some communities were temporarily inaccessible.
This article uses material from AFP.
Kieran Burke
www.dw.com