Recent Natural Disasters | Calamities | Hazards

October 31, 2019: Magnitude 4.3 earthquake tremor has been felt in Durban today. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake occurred at 10 km depth with epicenter located 44 km NW of Port Shepstone, South Africa. The earthquake tremor was well felt by the people of Port Shepstone, Margate, Kokstad, Scottsburgh, Umkomaas, Epumalanga, Pietermaritzburg and Durban KwaZulu Natal, South Africa

Flooding at Gillooly's interchange in JHB (Twitter/TrafficSA)  November 10, 2016: At least six people died due to flash floods in Johannesburg, South Africa Wednesday afternoon. According to Johannesburg's Mayor Herman Mashaba, a 3-year-old girl still remains missing.

A lightning strike near Elim in Harding in KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa critically injured a person on Saturday morning. The man was rushed to a local clinic in a critical condition, News24 reported quoting KwaZulu-Natal Emergency Services spokesperson Robert McKenzie.

Update 10:15 UTC An earthquake of magnitude 3.1 rattled Durban and its surrounding areas, local medias reported. No damage or injuries have been reported.   Magnitude 6.4 very strong earthquake in Taiwan has claimed lives of dozen of people. However, this earthquake isn't linked in any way with Taiwan earthquake. Apart from that, a rumor has spread in Durban City about the Tsunami warning in the area. Please note that there is currently no any Tsunami threat for Durban. Don't run behind such RUMORS!

Heavy rainfall accompanied with hail claimed life of an elderly woman and damaged houses in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Hailstorm caused damage in Mount Frere and Mount Ayliff on Wednesday night, News24 reported quoting Alfred Nzo municipality spokesperson Ndabuko Masumpa.

Key West Shopping Center roof collapse in Krugersdorp, South Africa (Twitter/@cindyseeber)  At least five people have been injured after hailstorm collapsed a section of the roof at Key West Shopping Centre in Krugersdorp, west of Gauteng, South Africa Saturday afternoon. According to Krugersdorp News , the Key West Shopping center in Krugersdorp was evacuated after its roof collapsed around 4 p.m. local time.

Heat wave has claimed lives of two people in a shopping mall in Cape Town City of South Africa. Two people died in Khayelitsha Shopping Mall as the mercury reached 34°C in Cape Town City.

Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces of South Africa will be declared drought disaster areas this week or next, risk management in the department of agriculture said on Wednesday. South Africa is facing its worst drought since 1982, with more than 2.7 million households facing water shortages across the country, Lennox Mabaso, spokesperson for the local government department in KwaZulu-Natal, told Al Jazeera .

Lightning storm in KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa has claimed lives of two women. The emergency call centre received multiple reports of lightning strikes at the Jali Informal settlement, Sowetan reported quoting KZN EMS spokesperson Robert McKenzie.

Around 150 firefighters are battling wildfires in Cape Town region of South Africa which have burned at least five houses. According to  Independent Online, five homes have been destroyed along Silvermine in Noordhoek. More than 50 people - residents of a retirement home - have been treated for smoke inhalation, BBC reported. Three mass care centres have been formed to those who have had to flee their homes.

This list contains all major natural disasters in South Africa in 2015 with detail report. Click for most recent natural disasters in South Africa

A tornado ripped through parts of Soweto, South Africa during a severe storm. Three houses in Protea Glen have apparently destroyed and over 30 others have been also damaged, Eyewitness News mentioned.

This list contains all major natural disasters in South Africa in 2014 with detail report. Click for most recent natural disasters in South Africa

M 5.3 strong shallow earthquake shakes South Africa today, the U.S. Geological Survey reported. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the quake's epicenter was located 6 km E of Orkney and 16 km SSE of Klerksdorp. It was 6.2 miles deep.

Recent flooding in Cape Town has affected more than 8,000 people, News24 reported quoting the Disaster Risk Management Centre. People of Khayelitsha, Strand, Vrygrond, Lotus River, Gugulethu, Delft and Philippi area of South Africa are more affected by the floods. Khayelitsha area is reported to be the worst affected area, with around 7 000 people affected by the flooding. Original post: Natural Disasters List June 15, 2014

Fire triggered by magnitude 2.4 earthquake at the Doornkop gold mine west of Johannesburg, South Africa has claimed lives of eight people. Nine mineworkers were missing earlier after the fire broke out on Tuesday night which damaged electric cables, triggering the blaze, Xinhua reported quoting the National Union of Mineworkers. One body is yet to be recovered. The tremor also triggered a rockfall about 1.7 kilometres underground at the Doornkop mine, west of Johannesburg. Almost 50% of the world's gold reserves are located in South Africa. Original post: Natural Disasters List February 6, 2014

M 4.0 moderate earthquake shakes Johannesburg, South Africa today, the Council for Geo science reported. According to the Council for Geo science, the quake's epicenter was located near the University of Johannesburg. Tremor which lasted for 10-15 seconds was also felt in parts of northern & southern Joburg. People of Roodepoort, Gauteng  and Johannesburg are reporting moderate to weak shaking. Majority of the earthquakes in this region are mining related. No damage or injuries have been reported from earthquake in Johannesburg today, Emergency Management Services (EMS) said. 08:54 UTC (local time 10:54, 2013-11-18 @ epicenter) Original post: Natural Disasters List November 18, 2013 In collaboration with earthquake-report.com

M 4.7 moderate earthquake shakes South Africa today, the U.S. Geological Survey reported. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the quake's epicenter was located 50 km W of Barberton and 56 km SW of Nelspruit. It was 3.1 miles deep. People of Barberton, Nelspruit, Sabie have reported light to weak shaking. Earthquakes in South Africa are rare. Magnitude 4.0 earthquake in Swaziland shook South Africa in May 2012. 14:52 UTC (local time 2013-07-07 16:52 @ epicenter) Epicenter Location 50 km W of Barberton, South Africa 54 km ESE of Belfast, South Africa 56 km SW of Nelspruit, South Africa 70 km SW of White River, South Africa 79 km NW of Mbabane, Swaziland Original post: Natural Disasters List July 7, 2013

This list contains all major natural disasters in South Africa in 2013 with detail report. Click for most recent natural disasters in South Africa July 2013 July 7: South Africa earthquake shakes Barberton and Nelspruit M 4.7 moderate earthquake shakes South Africa today, the U.S. Geological Survey reported. February 2013 February 5: Flooding in Jozi, South Africa Heavy rainfall caused flooding in Jozi of South Africa. January 2013 January 30: Wildfire in South Africa A wildfire is burning currently in Paarl, South Africa. January 3: Storm in Free State, South Africa One killed and 105 others injured in heavy storm in Sasolburg, Free State region of South Africa. 

This list contains all major natural disasters in South Africa in 2012 with detail report. Click for most recent natural disasters in South Africa December 2012 December 12: Storms in Mahikeng, South Africa Torrential rains and storms kill two people in Mahikeng, South Africa. December 11: Flooding in Durban, South Africa Seven people are reported to be missing in flooding in the Umzinto River, near Durban. November 2012 November 8: Heavy storm in Cape Town, South Africa One killed and 19 others injured when scaffolding collapsed outside a Linkin Park concert in Cape Town, South Africa. October 2012 October 21: Floods in Eastern Cape, South Africa Floods in Eastern Cape South Africa kill 8. October 17: Storm in Mpumalanga, South Africa Heavy storms in Mpumalanga of South Africa killed one and injured other eight. August 2012 August 7: Snowfall in Johannesburg, South Africa Rare Snow Falls reported in Johannesburg, South Africa. June 2012 June 24: Tornado in Kes