In brief
The Eastern Cape province of South Africa has been hit hard by severe flooding resulting from heavy rains and snow, leading to tragic losses, with ongoing rescue operations for missing individuals.
Heavy rains in South Africa's Eastern Cape province have led to catastrophic flooding, resulting in the deaths of at least 49 individuals, with a heartbreaking toll including several schoolchildren. Provincial Premier Oscar Mabuyane reported on the escalating fatalities due to the floods, stating, "The situation is so bad on the ground." Among the deceased are four children, along with a bus driver and a conductor whose vehicle was swept away while attempting to cross a bridge in Mthatha on Tuesday. Rescue efforts are continuing as authorities search for four additional children who were aboard the bus, which has been located abandoned on a riverbank. News from private channel Newzroom Afrika revealed that eight bodies, including that of the bus driver, had been recovered earlier. However, four of the children were found alive Tuesday, having clung onto trees amidst the floodwaters. There were a total of 13 individuals on the bus, 11 of whom were schoolchildren.On Wednesday morning, Mabuyane visited the affected communities, including Decoligny, where hundreds of residents have been displaced and are now living in makeshift shelters. He commended local heroes who have helped in the rescue and alert efforts. In total, 58 schools have been impacted across three districts in Eastern Cape: OR Tambo, Amathole, and Alfred Nzo. Mabuyane remarked that in his lifetime, he had never witnessed such devastation. In the adjacent KwaZulu-Natal province, 68 schools have suffered damage, although no fatalities have yet been reported. Recent severe weather, characterized by heavy snow, torrential rain, and gale-force winds, has also left nearly 500,000 homes without power since Tuesday, with state-owned Eskom working diligently to restore electricity. President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his condolences to the bereaved families and called for unity and caution as winter weather continues to impact the nation. The Eastern Cape, notably the birthplace of Nelson Mandela, remains the hardest hit along with KwaZulu-Natal, which has seen the closure of major roads as a precaution against further disasters.
