Camilla Jessen
Torrential rains and landslides have left dozens dead.
At least 90 people have died due to floods in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province, authorities announced on Monday.
Rescuers are still searching for more victims, AFP reported, according to Agerpres.
The floods, caused by violent winds and heavy rains, struck one of South Africa’s poorest regions last week.
Around 2,686 people have been left homeless and are currently staying in temporary shelters, according to local officials.
The Eastern Cape government confirmed that 30 of the 90 victims were children.
Among them were at least six students who were on a school bus swept away by floodwaters.
Three of the students managed to survive by clinging to trees.
Worst-Hit Areas
The town of Mthatha, about 800 kilometers south of Johannesburg, was one of the worst-hit areas.
Nearby is the village of Qunu, where former South African president and anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela was born.
Thousands of homes, roads, schools, and clinics have been buried in mudslides caused by the torrential rains and freezing temperatures.
Emergency teams are going door-to-door, searching for missing people and offering help to survivors.
Officials warn that the number of victims may continue to rise as rescue operations continue.
President Blames Climate Change
During a visit to the area on Friday, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa blamed climate change for the disaster.
He noted that floodwaters rose to more than four meters in some areas.
Heavy rain and snow are common during South Africa’s winter, but the country is especially vulnerable to extreme weather events linked to climate change, including more frequent floods, droughts, and wildfires, according to the UN Green Fund.