Summary:
The sub-tropical depression Issa in the Indian Ocean brought heavy flooding to the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal on April 11th and 12th, damaging the infrastructure connecting the port of Durban to the rest of the ten road networks.
Transnet (the national port operator) suspended the port operations on the evening of April 11th due to road closures and severe flooding and commenced gradually re-opening the ships’ transit on the morning of April 13th, 2022.
Skytek identifies 41 cargo ships anchored or drifting and 26 moored alongside in Durban port. Due to port closure, there is a 15% increase in the ships waiting from the monthly average number.
Skytek analyses high-resolution imagery before and after passing of the sub-tropical depression Issa, clearly mapping the flooding in Figure 2 and Figure 3:
The sub-tropical Issa brought heavy flooding, and wind speeds of 45 MPH added to the disruption, toppling down containers in terminals and derailing railcars in the port depot. Skytek maps in high-resolution imagery some of the damage captured in the port:
