South Africa: 12 dead in floods, according to new report

Twelve people died in South Africa, in the provinces of the east coast open to the Indian Ocean, in floods caused by heavy rainfall accompanied by violent winds, we learned Monday evening from local authorities.

In the Eastern Cape province (south-east), “the death toll currently stands at seven,” the spokesperson for the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality told AFP.

More than 2,000 people were evacuated, including families living in makeshift huts in slums. The municipality has launched an appeal for donations in kind, such as blankets, food or clothing.

Near Durban, in the neighboring region of KwaZulu-Natal (east), “five people have unfortunately lost their lives (…) and dozens are currently being treated for injuries”, lamented the provincial government in a press release.

In 2022, the port city and its surroundings were hit by the worst floods in the country's history. Torrential rains had triggered impressive mudslides which swept away everything in their path. More than 400 people died and the destruction amounted to several million euros.

Monday evening, rescue teams were still deployed in the two provinces.

Images provided by authorities show houses razed by bad weather, submerged roads and uprooted trees. The electricity was cut off in places.

The heavy rains are currently concentrated on the east coast but weather services have issued warnings for four of South Africa's nine provinces.

According to the National Institute of Meteorology, the country is hit by heavy rains and a cold snap, a depression system called “cut-off low”, which can cause heavy rain, hail, violent winds or even snowfall.