Severe Flooding in Eastern Cape Leaves 49 Dead as Rescue Efforts Continue

Severe flooding in South Africa’s Eastern Cape has led to at least 49 deaths, with recovery efforts ongoing. The region experienced intense storms causing widespread destruction, including damage to homes, schools, and hospitals. Local authorities, supported by the National Disaster Management Center, are responding to the crisis while the threat of rising fatalities looms.

At least 49 fatalities have been reported in South Africa following severe flooding in the Eastern Cape province. Officials expect this number to climb as search crews continue to recover bodies. The floods began early Tuesday after a significant weather front brought heavy rain, strong winds, and even snow to the area, which is one of the country’s poorest provinces.

Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane described this disaster as one of the worst weather events the area has faced in recent memory. “As we speak here, other bodies are being discovered,” he informed the press. The tragedies include six high school students who were swept away when their school bus was caught in floodwaters near Mthatha. Four additional students remain missing.

Authorities discovered the empty bus, leading the search teams to rescue three students clinging to trees while calling for help. However, the grim toll also includes the driver and another adult who was accompanying the students. Search and rescue operations will persist into Thursday, although officials did not clarify how many individuals might still be unaccounted for.

Disaster response teams have mobilized in both Eastern Cape and neighboring KwaZulu-Natal, responding to the aftermath of torrential rains and snow that swept through southern and eastern South Africa this past weekend. Reports of mudslides have also surfaced, further complicating the disaster response efforts.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has stated that the National Disaster Management Center is coordinating with local authorities to address the crisis. His administration acknowledged the drastic impacts of the recent cold front, which weather experts had predicted. In a statement, Ramaphosa expressed his condolences to grieving families in the region, referring to the incident as “devastation.”

Power outages have left hundreds of thousands without electricity in both Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. Officials revealed that hundreds of families have been displaced, taking refuge in temporary shelters, as floodwaters destroyed their homes. Schools and hospitals have not escaped the chaos, with 58 educational institutions and 20 hospitals reported damaged across the affected areas, particularly Mthatha.

As conditions begin to stabilize, submerged homes and washed-away vehicles remain visible, remnants of nature’s fury scattered across the landscape. South Africa is notoriously susceptible to such severe weather patterns stemming from the Indian and Southern Oceans. Last year, flooding in Durban was responsible for over 400 deaths due to similar prolonged heavy rainfall.

The recent flooding in South Africa’s Eastern Cape has tragically claimed at least 49 lives, with expectations of rising fatalities as body recovery continues. Emergency response teams are actively engaged in searches amidst damaged infrastructure and widespread disruptions. This event highlights the vulnerability of poorer communities to severe weather, further exacerbating the ongoing crisis for many in the region, where mudslides and power outages have heightened distress in the aftermath. South Africa’s history of similar disasters underscores an urgent need for improved resilience and preparedness.

Original Source: baynews9.com