AT least 72 people have tragically died in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa due to severe flooding caused by relentless torrential rains and strong winds over the past days. The Eastern Cape is the hardest-hit province, with the OR Tambo District Municipality suffering the most fatalities and damage. The floods have also caused landslides, widespread destruction of property and infrastructure, and the displacement of hundreds of residents who are now housed in temporary shelters such as community halls and schools.
A particularly heartbreaking incident involved a school bus carrying children that was swept away by raging floodwaters near Mthatha. At least eight bodies have been recovered from this bus, including four children, while three children were rescued alive after clinging to trees. Emergency workers continue to search for at least five children still missing after the bus was engulfed by the floods. The search was suspended overnight and resumed the following morning, with the bus eventually found empty on a riverbank.
The floods have also severely affected essential services. For example, the Butterworth Water Treatment Works was damaged, submerging pumps and electrical panels, leading to a water supply disruption. Power outages have been reported in several areas, affecting nearly 500,000 households. Efforts to repair infrastructure and restore services are underway, with disaster management teams and emergency services actively engaged in rescue, recovery, and support operations.
Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane expressed deep condolences to the families of the deceased and commended the emergency services’ response despite the challenging conditions. President Cyril Ramaphosa extended heartfelt sympathies to the affected communities and urged citizens to exercise caution amid the severe winter weather. The recent extreme weather, including heavy rains, snowfall, and gale-force winds, is part of a pattern of increasing climate-related disasters impacting South Africa.
This tragic event underscores the devastating power of nature and the urgent need for continued vigilance and support for communities vulnerable to such extreme weather phenomena.
