Most of the victims were recorded in the Durban region, a port city in Kwazulu-Natal (KZN) open to the Indian Ocean and the epicenter of the heavy rains which began last weekend.
723 people were affected. Sadly, the death toll continues to rise, with the latest recorded toll at 395dead”,”text”:”A total of 40,723 people were affected. Unfortunately, the number of deaths continues to increase, the last recorded report reporting 395 deaths”}}”>A total of 40,723 people were affected. Sadly, the death toll continues to rise, with the latest recorded death toll at 395.
the province’s Department of Cooperation and Traditional Affairs said in a statement.
At dawn, the search for the missing resumed. Special police teams backed by helicopters are combing the area with a fine-toothed comb, journalists from theAFP.
The government gave no indication of the total number of people wanted. But on the fifth day of the disaster, the rescuers have little hope of finding the living: Currently our work consists mainly of recovering bodies
told theAFP a rescue worker, Travis Trower.
President Cyril Ramaphosa traveling in Mpumalanga (north-east) on the occasion of the Easter holidays, deplored a disaster never seen before in the country
.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa meets with flood victims who lost family members in Clermont, Durban region.
Photo: Reuters/ROGAN WARD
The forecast calls for more rain during the day and over the weekend, with risks of further flooding and landslides.
The bad weather also affects the neighboring province of the Eastern Cape (south-east) where one death has already been reported
said Mr. Ramaphosa.
Roads were devastated, bridges collapsed. Over 250 schools were affected and thousands of homes were destroyed. The authorities fear hundreds of millions of euros in damages.
In the morning, volunteers armed with gloves and rubbish bags began cleaning Durban’s beaches, which are usually popular with families and tourists.
It’s my beach, the one where I take my children, where we spend our weekends
, explains Morne Mustard, a 35-year-old computer scientist, among the volunteers at the popular Umhlanga beach. The restaurants on the beach offered them breakfast.
He survived the flood, absolute devastation, a horrible sight
he says, describing all kinds of rubbish and objects, brooms, utensils, carried by the waters towards the beach.
Thousands of people were left homeless, around twenty emergency shelters were opened. Some have been sleeping for several days on chairs or pieces of cardboard placed on the floor.
In some areas, water and electricity have been cut since Monday. Desperate people were seen drawing water from burst pipes. A state of disaster has been declared.
A man watches helplessly where his house was before the floods.
Photo: Reuters/ROGAN WARD
The day before, sporadic demonstrations broke out demanding help. The City of Durban has called to patience
with relief operations being slowed down due to the extent of road damage
.
Local authorities have appealed for donations of food, water bottles and blankets. Looting has been reported. The region had already experienced massive destruction in July during an unprecedented wave of riots and looting.
Southern Africa is regularly plagued by deadly storms during the hurricane season from November to April. But South Africa is generally spared from these extreme weather events that form over the Indian Ocean.
