A woman has tragically died after being stranded overnight in one of numerous vehicles trapped in rare, heavy snowfall in South Africa. Traffic remained backed up for approximately 30 kilometres (19 miles) early on Sunday, nearly two days after the first vehicles were stranded, authorities reported.
Snowstorms struck the eastern part of the country on Friday, affecting several key routes, including the N3 motorway that connects Johannesburg with the coastal city of Durban, which was among the hardest hit.
A 39-year-old woman passed away from hypothermia after spending Friday night with other passengers in a minibus taxi that was caught in the storm near the town of Mooiplaas, about 430 kilometres (270 miles) from Johannesburg. She was taken to hospital but later succumbed to the extreme cold, according to Roland Robertson, operations manager for Midlands EMS emergency services.
While some areas in inland South Africa occasionally experience light snowfall during winter, the current storm has been unusually severe. Unconfirmed reports suggest some areas have seen up to two metres of snow.
Recovery efforts have been challenging, with traffic at a standstill, particularly near Van Reenen’s Pass in the Drakensberg mountains, roughly 330 kilometres southeast of Johannesburg. According to the N3 Toll Concession, which oversees the route, many vehicles were stuck in multiple lanes, making it difficult for road graders and rescue teams to clear the snow and reach those still trapped.
Thania Dhoogra, operations manager at the N3 Toll Concession, said, “The most recent update indicates an approximately 30-kilometre stretch of traffic that’s currently impenetrable.”
Authorities are yet to determine the full number of vehicles or people stranded by the unusual weather conditions.
