South Africa Floods Claim Dozens of Lives
Eastern Cape Province Reels From Historic Deluge
A devastating flood has claimed at least 49 lives in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province, with fears mounting that the death toll will continue to rise as search efforts proceed. The disaster, triggered by unusually heavy rainfall and strong winds, has left communities shattered and infrastructure severely damaged.
School Bus Tragedy Highlights the Crisis
The flooding reached a tragic peak when a school bus carrying students was swept away by raging waters near the town of Mthatha
. Oscar Mabuyane, the Eastern Cape Premier, confirmed that six high school students perished in the incident. As we speak here, other bodies are being discovered,
he stated during a press briefing. Four students remain missing, adding to the anguish of the affected families.
Authorities located the bus on Wednesday, but it was empty. Three students were rescued Tuesday after clinging to trees and calling for help. A driver and another adult accompanying the students also died in the flood.
Widespread Devastation and Rescue Efforts
Search and rescue operations are scheduled to continue Thursday, though the number of missing individuals remains unclear. Teams are working to identify those still unaccounted for. The torrential rains and snow extended into neighboring KwaZulu-Natal province, prompting disaster response activation across both regions.
Mudslides have also been reported, compounding the challenges faced by emergency responders. Cyril Ramaphosa, the President of South Africa, expressed his condolences and described the situation as devastation
. The National Disaster Management Center is collaborating with local authorities to provide assistance.
According to the World Meteorological Organization, extreme weather events like these are becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change; in 2023, global weather-related disasters caused over $115 billion in economic losses. (WMO, 2024)
Infrastructure Crippled, Communities Displaced
Hundreds of thousands of homes in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal are without power. Hundreds of families have been displaced, seeking refuge in temporary shelters after their homes were destroyed or rendered uninhabitable. At least 58 schools and 20 hospitals have sustained damage, primarily in the Mthatha
district and surrounding areas.
Cars and debris litter the landscape as floodwaters recede, revealing the extent of the damage. South Africa is particularly vulnerable to severe weather systems originating from the Indian and Southern Oceans. In 2022, over 400 people lost their lives in flooding in Durban and surrounding areas, highlighting the disproportionate impact on impoverished communities with informal housing.