The death toll from the floods in South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province has climbed to 67, authorities confirmed on Thursday, as emergency teams continue to search for the missing.
The updated figure includes 10 additional bodies discovered during ongoing rescue operations, provincial and national officials announced during a joint press briefing.
“We are currently in the process of identifying the deceased and coordinating with their families,” said Zolile Williams, a provincial government minister, emphasizing the human impact of the tragedy.
Velenkosini Hlabisa, Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, stressed the emotional toll of the disaster: “These are not just statistics—these were people, many of whom were breadwinners or the only children in their families.”
Among the victims were six students from Jumba Senior Secondary School in the OR Tambo Inland District, who were swept away on Tuesday morning when a minibus transporting 13 students was caught in rising floodwaters while crossing a bridge. Three students survived the incident, while four remain missing.
Heavy rains, snowfall, and strong winds over the past week have battered the region, damaging infrastructure, displacing hundreds of residents, and disrupting basic services like electricity and water. Many affected individuals are now sheltering in community halls.
Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane has described the flooding as the worst the province has ever experienced. On Thursday, local media reported long queues at mortuaries, where families arrived to identify the bodies of missing loved ones.
President Cyril Ramaphosa extended his condolences to those affected and pledged continued government support. He is expected to visit the flood-stricken province on Friday.