1987 South Africa floods

Natural disaster in South Africa 1987 South Africa floods September 25–29, 1987 South Africa (especially KwaZulu-Natal) 506 confirmed US$500 million Floods in September 1987 became the deadliest natural disaster in the history of South Africa, with 506 fatalities. A cut-off low moved across South Africa, fueled by moisture from the southeast.Platford G. G. June 1988 Protection Against Flood Damage https://dochub.sasri.org.za/server/api/core/bitstreams/611d3416-c18f-4e2f-a7ad-fd3e56c00627/content Proceedings of The South African Sugar Technologists' Association https://web.archive.org/web/20260811063051/https://dochub.sasri.org.za/server/api/core/bitstreams/611d3416-c18f-4e2f-a7ad-fd3e56c00627/content 11 August 2026 Over a five-day period beginning on September 25, parts of Natal province in eastern South Africa received as much as 900 mm in on of rainfall. The heavy rainfall ended on September 29.https://southcoastsun.co.za/81662/a-river-ran-through-it/ A river ran through it 28 July 2016 Over three days, Mtunzini recorded 801 mm in on of precipitation. The heaviest rainfall occurred in mountainous areas, causing landslides and flash floods, particularly in rivers.https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/aeg/eeg/article-abstract/xxxi/1/59/137538/Floods-and-Landslides-in-Natal-and-Notably-the 10.2113/gseegeosci.xxxi.1.59 Floods and Landslides in Natal and Notably the Greater Durban Region, September 1987: A Retrospective View 1994 Bell F. G. Environmental & Engineering Geoscience xxxi 1 59–74 1994EEGeo..31...59B subscription Water levels along the Umgeni River were so high that it washed away an entire island. The Mvoti River swelled to a width of 900 m ft on, from its normal width of 35 m ft on.http://www.coastkzn.co.za/themes/coastal-risk-and-vulnerability/extreme-events/ Extreme Events There were a total of 506 fatalities related to the event.https://www.ier.co.za/the-worst-south-african-floods/ The worst South African floods 4 August 2020 The floods damaged more than 30,000 houses, leaving more than 50,000 people homeless. Damage was estimated at US$500 million. 14 bridges were washed away. The floods destroyed four aqueducts serving the Durban metropolitan area, leaving people without water.https://www.nytimes.com/1987/10/04/world/south-africa-floods-kill-174-and-more-rain-is-predicted.html South Africa Floods Kill 174 and More Rain is Predicted The New York Times 4 October 1987 Several rural villages were entirely destroyed.https://lwes.co.za/2021/03/25/greatest-south-african-natural-disasters/ Greatest South African Natural Disasters 25 March 2021 The floods also wrecked fields. Flooding of the Tugela River near the township of Mandini caused the loss of the John Ross Bridge, which was considered the largest infrastructure loss at the time and which was subsequently rebuilt in a record time of approximately 6 months at the behest of the South African government.Marais GP Gunthorp MR January 1988 Effect of the September 1987 floods on the road infrastructure in Natal https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/AJA10212019_21515 The Civil Engineer in South Africa 39-42 Sabinet After the floods, officials discouraged drinking water due to the contamination of supply, The military airdropped pamphlets to residents how to purify their water.https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/10/03/Flood-waters-recede-in-South-Africas-worst-natural-disaster/6800560232000/ Flood waters recede in South Africa's worst natural disaster See also 2022 KwaZulu-Natal floods - deadly floods in 2022 References Category:20th-century floods in Africa Category:1980s floods Category:1987 natural disasters Category:1987 in South Africa Category:Floods in South Africa Category:1987 disasters in South Africa Category:1987 floods