Floods in September 1987 became the deadliest natural disaster in the history of South Africa, with 506 fatalities.
[1] Over a five-day period beginning on September 25, parts of Natal province in eastern South Africa received as much as 900 mm (35 in) of rainfall.
[1] The heaviest rainfall occurred in mountainous areas, causing landslides and flash floods, particularly in rivers.
The floods destroyed four aqueducts serving the Durban metropolitan area, leaving people without water.
[1] 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.