KwaZulu Natal skies are expected to unleash rough weather this week. This comes after heavy winds on Sunday. The South African Weather Services has issued a Yellow level 2 alert. So, residents of the province can expect the seas to turn wild and the winds to be heavy.
It (South African Weather Services)’s warning of possible difficulties in navigating at sea while land routes may also be affected by the conditions. Forecaster Buyisani Maluleke says another alert is issued for along the KZN coast today for damaging coastal winds. This could result in localized disruptions at small harbors or a port for a short period of time. There’s also a fire danger warning expected over most of KZN today. Maluleke explains, “These conditions are more likely to lead to extreme veldfires over KZN, so the impact could be damage to property and loss of life.” Maluleke has warned against making fires or leaving them unattended. Fourteen people including six firefighters died last month as a result of runaway fires in the province.
If someone own a boat or a yacht, they would be risking their lives sailing out to sea amongst the rough waves and winds. It would not be wise to even go into the sae for a swim. Another matter that would raise concern is the traffic of ships coming in from the high seas. The harbours would have difficulty directing ships to dock due to the stormy weather. If a person owns a boat, they should see that it is properly tied or chained up. The winds can blow anything away as if it were palm trees. Boats can even find themselves beached if not properly looked after. (By beached I mean washed ashore). Yachts and boats can also find themselves sinking. The danger of fire also serves as a warning against greater death and destruction. Hot weather which can also be attributed to climate change will cause havoc as well.
The risk of natural forest fires or accidental man-made fires can lead to damages in term of homes and businesses. Fires must be terminated when they start. This can happen anywhere.
Instructions to the Public:
• Do not make fires in open areas or leave fires unattended.
- Do not discard cigarette butts out of car windows or in open fields.
- Avoid throwing bottles in the veld as they can magnify the sun’s rays and ignite fires.
- Prepare and maintain firebreaks in a controlled manner.
- In case of a large fire, report it immediately and move away to allow professionals to handle it.
In addition, SAWS has issued a level two warning for damaging south-westerly winds expected along the KZN coast between Port Edward and Kosi Bay.
All it takes is a single fuse to ignite wanton destruction in the form of a wild fire.
- This is why when going camping making a small fire to heat food would be okay. But allowing it to continue after use is not a good practise.
- Smoking is an unapologetic habit and throwing cigarette studs outside your car window can be the fuse to light a terrible forest fire that can destroy the lives of others.
- It may sound surprising that a bottle of some kind can magnify sunlight to create a small fire that can spread across the surrounding area but this can happen in the case of broken shards.
- Contacting the local fire department over wild fire breaks so that they can contain it should be the first priority in such a scenario.
It would not be wise to go out swimming or camping due to the significant storms being experienced or the rise in heat temperatures in the rural areas. The threat of climate change is coming to the doorstep of KwaZulu Natal and Durban. We should be ready.
Article written by:
Yacoob Cassim
Journalist at Radio Al Ansaar
