South Africa declared a state of national disaster on Monday night as the country continues to grapple with the aftermath of heavy rains and resultant floods. Seven people have lost their lives and others are missing, as per disaster management centers in multiple provinces. The government declared the state of disaster in order to coordinate an effective response to the flood impact.
According to the statement released by the presidency, the toll is yet to be confirmed. However, seven out of the nine provinces in the country are facing the brunt of the bad weather, primarily on the east coast facing the Indian Ocean.
The coastal province of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) has reported the death of at least five individuals, including a newborn baby, who lost its life in a flooded house. Some others are still missing after attempting to cross a flooded river. The neighboring northeastern province of Mpumalanga has reported two more deaths.
In Limpopo, a province bordering Zimbabwe, there has been damage reported at a hospital. The floods have also led to the damage of roads, bridges and washing away of vehicles. Farmers have incurred losses due to the flood, with crops and livestock being affected, according to the statement by the president’s office.
The National Weather Centre has warned of “persistent and heavy” rains ahead, increasing the risk of flooding due to saturated rivers and waterlogged soils.
South Africa had suffered its worst floods in history last year, mainly affecting Durban, the country’s third largest city and a major port. The heavy rains had triggered massive mudslides, resulting in the loss of lives, bridges, roads, and buildings. The storms took over 400 lives and impacted more than 85,000 individuals.
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