Rescue operations continued in South Africa’s Eastern Cape on Saturday following severe floods earlier in the week, with the number of confirmed deaths reaching at least 86.
President Cyril Ramaphosa, who visited the province on Friday, described the disaster as a “catastrophic” event driven by climate change.
Police Minister Senzo Mchunu confirmed the updated death toll, stating that the situation in the province had grown increasingly dire.
The region endured days of relentless rain and strong winds, causing floodwaters to surge over four meters (13 feet) in some areas, according to Ramaphosa.
Widespread Destruction
The floods submerged thousands of homes, roads, schools, and health centers, leaving them coated in thick layers of mud. The city of Mthatha, located roughly 800 kilometers (500 miles) south of Johannesburg, was the most heavily affected.
Emergency teams have been combing through the debris, moving house to house in search of victims and possible survivors. Many residents were caught off guard by the nighttime flooding and became trapped inside their homes. Some were able to escape to their rooftops, where they waited for rescue teams.
Among the fatalities were six children and three adults who were aboard a school bus that was swept away by the rising water.
Missing and Rescued
Three students managed to survive by holding onto trees until help arrived. However, four others remained missing as of Saturday.
While snow and rainfall are typical during South Africa’s winter, Ramaphosa noted on Thursday that the coastal regions had been hit by unusually severe weather.
The Green Climate Fund has identified South Africa as particularly susceptible to the impacts of climate change, warning that rising climate variability is intensifying the frequency and severity of extreme weather events.