S Africa rescuers search for survivors of deadly floods
Published: 05:06 PM,Jun 12,2025 | EDITED : 09:06 PM,Jun 12,2025
A man stumbles as he tries to cross a flooded road following severe weather, in Cape Town. — Reuters
JOHANNESBURG: South Africa rescue teams raced on Thursday to find possible survivors after heavy rain flooded parts of a coastal province earlier in the week as the death toll rose to 57. Torrential rains and freezing temperatures struck the largely rural and underdeveloped Eastern Cape on Monday, causing major flooding and landslides that submerged houses. Images on local media showed homes completely under water and rescuers wading through the mud. Power and water supplies have been affected and hundreds have been forced to relocate.
More than 3,000 houses have been affected, she said, adding it was 'the worst ever disaster' recorded in the area. President Cyril Ramaphosa called the floods 'unprecedented' and said he would visit the disaster-hit region on Friday. A previous death toll of 49 has now risen to 57, Velenkosini Hlabisa, minister of cooperative governance and traditional affairs, said. 'The figures are growing. This (57) is the figure... for the entire Eastern Cape province in three different areas,' he told reporters, while visiting the worst hit city, Mthatha, about 800 kilometres south of Johannesburg. — AFP
More than 3,000 houses have been affected, she said, adding it was 'the worst ever disaster' recorded in the area. President Cyril Ramaphosa called the floods 'unprecedented' and said he would visit the disaster-hit region on Friday. A previous death toll of 49 has now risen to 57, Velenkosini Hlabisa, minister of cooperative governance and traditional affairs, said. 'The figures are growing. This (57) is the figure... for the entire Eastern Cape province in three different areas,' he told reporters, while visiting the worst hit city, Mthatha, about 800 kilometres south of Johannesburg. — AFP