/ 27 December 1999

HEAVY RAINS CLAIM MORE LIVES

POLICE divers were searching on Monday for four people feared drowned after the minibus taxi in which they were travelling was swept away by strong currents in the Mhlambe River in Muden, KwaZulu-Natal, on Sunday night. Police said the taxi was crossing the flooded river at 10pm when the vehicle stalled in the water flowing over the bridge. The driver and eight passengers swam to safety, but four others were trapped in the vehicle. Meanwhile heavy rains have destroyed almost the whole village of Kwaluthuli at Tsomo in the Eastern Cape. One person is reported to have died, and only about six homes escaped damage.