Earth Science News
WHITE OUT
One person dies in SAfrican snow traffic back-up
One person dies in SAfrican snow traffic back-up
by AFP Staff Writers
Johannesburg (AFP) Sept 22, 2024

A woman died after being stuck overnight in one of scores of vehicles trapped in unusually heavy snowfall in South Africa with traffic still backed up for around 30 kilometres (19 miles) early Sunday, nearly two days after the first people were stranded, authorities said.

Cars, buses and trucks became stuck in heavy snow on Friday in the east of the country with the key N3 route linking Johannesburg and the east coast city of Durban one of the roads most severely affected.

A 39-year-old woman died from hypothermia in hospital on Saturday after spending Friday night with other passengers in a minibus taxi stranded by the weather, Midlands EMS emergency services operations manager Roland Robertson told AFP.

The travellers had been stopped near the town of Mooiplaas about 430 kilometres (270 miles) from Johannesburg.

"They were exposed to the cold and everything the whole night, with no blankets, no anything. They weren't prepared for what happened," Robertson told the ENCA broadcaster. "Unfortunately she did demise at the hospital later."

While some inland areas of South Africa often receive dustings of snow during their winter, heavy snow falls are rare. Unconfirmed media reports spoke of two metres falling in some areas.

Recovery operations were continuing under extremely challenging conditions Sunday with a backlog around Van Reenen's Pass in the Drakensberg mountains, about 330 kilometres southeast of Johannesburg, said the N3 Toll Concession which manages the route.

Cars were being escorted out of the area but abandoned and broken-down vehicles, some of which were four abreast, were making it difficult for road graders to clear the snow and for search and rescue teams to reach people still stranded, operations manager Thania Dhoogra said.

"The latest report we have is that there is an approximately 30-kilometre backlog of traffic that's currently impenetrable," she told ENCA news.

The authorities have not yet been able to say how many people or vehicles were in total stranded on the roads by the snow.

Related Links
It's A White Out at TerraDaily.com

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
WHITE OUT
S.Africa snowfall closes roads, strands motorists overnight
Warden, South Africa (AFP) Sept 21, 2024
Unusually heavy snowfall caused major disruption on South Africa's roads Saturday with people still stranded at midday after spending the night stuck in their vehicles. The key N3 highway linking Johannesburg and the east coast city of Durban was one of the worst affected and several portions were closed, with even detours impassible, officials said. Emergency services were working to reach people in their vehicles but it was still not clear how many were affected and in what condition they were ... read more

WHITE OUT
Slow-moving landslides increasing risk to expanding mountain communities

UN holds 'Summit of the Future' to tackle global crises

Water crisis in Flint, Michigan: an American scandal

Women drive innovation, evolution of Chinese wine industry

WHITE OUT
China activates first satellite-ground laser communication system

Engineers Develop Stronger Cement Inspired by Human Bone Structure

Scientists track plastic waste in pristine Canada marine park

Microsoft-BlackRock team to raise $100 bn for AI data centers

WHITE OUT
Norway limits wild salmon fishing as stocks hit new lows

Nigeria issues flood warning as Cameroon opens dam

Unprecedented global study reveals cities receive more rainfall than surrounding rural areas

India minister blames dam release for flooding

WHITE OUT
Antarctic ice loss could accelerate dramatically after 2100

'Disappeared completely': melting glaciers worry Central Asia

Greenland urges Denmark to confront its dark past

Massive Greenland tsunami behind mysterious nine-day seismic event

WHITE OUT
Kimchi threat as heatwave drives up South Korea cabbage prices

Angry French cognac makers see red over Chinese tariffs threat

Sustainable mulch films aim to boost agriculture and reduce plastic waste

China to tax Taiwanese agricultural imports

WHITE OUT
EU chief announces $11 bn for nations hit by 'heartbreaking' floods

Hungary Danube waters reach decade high after Storm Boris

Shanghai hit by second typhoon in a week

Bridging the heavens and Earth

WHITE OUT
Niger to step up measures against jihadist attacks

Nobel winners demand jailed Niger president Bazoum's release

US military says withdrawal from Niger is complete

Tunisia fisherwomen battle inequality and climate change

WHITE OUT
Neanderthals' isolated lifestyle may have contributed to their extinction

Researchers explore population movement patterns in the Indo-Pacific

AI unlocks new understanding of human cognition through brain research

Over half of world population have social benefits, a first: UN

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.