Floods in South Africa: Over 80 Lives Lost to the Disaster
For more than a week, large-scale rescue operations have been ongoing in the heart of South Africa’s regions due to devastating floods that have claimed at least 86 lives. The catastrophic natural disaster affected the Eastern Cape province after torrential rains caused widespread flooding and infrastructure destruction, further complicating the situation for local residents and emergency services. According to the South African Police Service, the number of casualties in the region continues to rise. Rescue teams are diligently pulling bodies from the floodwaters that have invaded towns and villages, where rising river levels and structural collapses have washed away seemingly immovable building walls. Official data indicates that as of today, the death toll due to the disaster has reached 86, but experts do not rule out the possibility that the final count may increase, as many people remain missing. President Cyril Ramaphosa, who is on a working visit to the village of Mtata, stated that the government is investigating the causes of the tragedy. He mentioned that one of the main versions is that the destruction resulted from possible failure or negligence in the maintenance of local hydrological structures. Preliminary reports suggest that a wall of water, between three and four meters high, suddenly burst out of the river. This caused a massive flood that destroyed homes, washed away parts of structures, and trapped survivors inside their dwellings. Earlier, on Friday, Ramaphosa emphasized that climate change is significantly intensifying natural disasters in the region. According to him, a persistent imbalance in mountain and coastal climate patterns leads to frequent and large-scale floods, which have now become common in many parts of South Africa. The president highlighted that these changes create new challenges for protection and safety systems, forcing authorities to seek long-term solutions to increase community resilience. In closing, the politician also recalled the major floods of 2022, which became one of the most severe natural disasters in the country in recent years. Over 400 people died in Durban on the eastern coast, and many others were left homeless. Experts estimate that this tragedy is directly linked to the global climate shift, which results in more frequent and intense extreme weather events. Currently, fire and rescue services, along with volunteers, continue working to address the aftermath of the catastrophe, operating in flooded zones, destroyed homes, and broken bridges. Witnesses report that the situation remains critical, as many people are still missing, and the number of directly affected and unaccounted-for individuals could still increase. Local authorities urge residents to stay cautious, follow safety recommendations, and support each other during this difficult time. Meanwhile, the international community is expressing condolences to the families of the victims and calling for increased efforts to mitigate the impacts of the climate crisis, as natural disasters are becoming more destructive each year, threatening the lives and livelihoods of millions across the entire region.