JOHANNESBURG: At least 18 persons have died in devastating flooding caused by torrential rain on South Africa’s eastern coast, local authorities said on Tuesday.
The flood has wreaked havoc in multiple provinces, prompting widespread evacuations and emergency measures to assist affected communities.
In the Eastern Cape province, seven fatalities have been reported, according to a spokesperson from the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality. Meanwhile, neighboring KwaZulu-Natal province has borne the brunt of the disaster, with at least 11 casualties reported in and around the port city of Durban.
The severe weather conditions have forced the evacuation of over 2,000 persons from Nelson Mandela Bay, particularly from informal settlements and slums within the municipality. Local authorities have issued urgent appeals for donations of essential supplies such as clothing, food, and blankets to support displaced residents.
Meanwhile, provincial authorities in KwaZulu-Natal have declared a state of alert, mobilizing resources to assist affected communities. A government statement said that 55 persons sustained minor to moderate injuries. Additionally, around 120 people have been displaced, prompting the establishment of three temporary shelters to accommodate those in need.
The impact of the flooding has been profound, with homes flattened, roads submerged, and trees uprooted across affected areas. Widespread energy blackouts have further compounded the challenges faced by residents.
The National Meteorological Institute has attributed the current weather phenomenon to a “cut-off low” pressure system, characterized by heavy rainfall and a cold snap. This weather pattern has also raised concerns of hail, snow, and strong winds in addition to the ongoing floods.
With heavy rainfall continuing along the eastern Indian Ocean coast, meteorological services have issued weather alerts in four of South Africa’s nine provinces.
