SA Weather Service issues hot weather alert for eastern parts of KZN
Residents in eastern parts of KwaZulu-Natal have been urged to take precautions as the SA Weather Service issues a hot weather alert.
Image: File
A weather advisory has been issued by the South African Weather Service for extremely uncomfortable conditions due to hot weather in the eastern parts of KwaZulu-Natal on Tuesday.
SAWS said that the following areas would be affected: eThekwini, KwaDukuza, Hlabisa, Hluhluwe, Jozini, Mandeni, Maphumulo, Mkhambathini, Mthonjaneni, Mtubatuba, Ndwedwe, Ray Nkonyeni, Umdoni, Umhlabuyalingana, uMhlathuze, uMlalazi and Umzumbe.
The weather service urged people to watch out for heat strokes, dehydration and heat exhaustion.
It further advised residents to hydrate regularly, limit physical activity and to seek shaded and well ventilated areas to cool down.
It further encouraged schools in the affected areas to suspend physical outdoor activities.
According to the forecast update, some temperatures are expected to peak in the mid 30s with 34°C in Pietermaritzburg and Ulundi, 33 °C in Kwa Mbonambi/ Richards Bay, Exhobho /Ixopo, 31°C in uMnambithi /Ladysmith and 30°C in Durban.
In a previous hot weather warning from Netcare, it was stated that those caring for small children and the elderly should be particularly vigilant when temperatures soar.
“Leaving babies, children, elderly persons or your pet unattended in vehicles, even for a short while, can be extremely dangerous, even fatal. The temperature inside a vehicle parked in the hot sun can quickly become like a furnace, which can be life threatening,” Netcare said.
Last week, police in Limpopo opened a case of culpable homicide following the tragic death of a three-year-old girl who was found locked inside a car parked at Seshego Hospital.
According to a report on IOL, preliminary investigations revealed that the child had allegedly been left in the car by her mother earlier that day and she succumbed to the intense heat and lack of oxygen while trapped inside the vehicle.