A minibus with schoolchildren has been swept away by floods in South Africa amid extreme weather conditions. Rescue efforts paused overnight, with three children reported rescued and seven fatalities discovered in separate incidents. Power disruptions affect nearly 500,000 households, prompting officials to caution against the dangers of flooding and severe weather.
Devastating Floods and Snowstorms Hit South Africa, Stranding Schoolchildren
Devastating Floods and Snowstorms Hit South Africa, Stranding Schoolchildren
Heavy rains and snow have severely impacted South Africa, claiming lives and causing extensive damage, while rescue operations for an overturned minibus carrying schoolchildren are underway.
A minibus transporting schoolchildren has been caught in severe flooding in South Africa, as reported by Khuselwa Rantjie, a spokesperson for the Eastern Cape provincial government. The exact number of children on board remains unknown, yet reports confirm that three individuals have been rescued. As night fell, rescue operations were paused and are scheduled to resume on Wednesday, according to Rantjie.
Separately, at least seven fatalities have been recorded in the OR Tambo district due to relentless floodwaters. South Africa is currently grappling with heavy snow, torrential rains, and strong winds, which have collectively led to the deaths of five additional people in a road accident and left nearly 500,000 homes without power across the nation.
The Eastern Cape province, renowned as the birthplace of anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela, is experiencing the brunt of these icy conditions, with significant disruption also occurring in KwaZulu-Natal. In light of the situation, local authorities have closed numerous major roads to prevent further incidents. Eastern Cape premier, Oscar Mabuyane, described the circumstances as a severe reminder of the power of nature and urged individuals in flood-prone areas to exercise caution.
In a related incident, five individuals lost their lives when a minibus taxi overturned near East London. The driver mentioned losing control while attempting to avoid a fallen tree, according to statements from Unathi Binqose, spokesperson for the Eastern Cape transport department. Meanwhile, two persons sustained injuries during the accident.
According to Eskom, the state power utility, nearly 300,000 homes have reported power outages across 14 locations in Eastern Cape, while KwaZulu-Natal has been affected with 196,000 homes losing electricity in 24 areas. KwaZulu-Natal’s Transport Minister, Siboniso Duma, indicated that heavy snowfall has caused trucks to become stranded on roads, resulting in considerable traffic congestion.
Grader machinery has been deployed to clear the most severely affected roads, where snow accumulation has been reported to exceed 30cm (12 inches). Meteorologist Lehlohonolo Thobela has cautioned about strong winds and high waves, complicating maritime navigation for ships given both provinces' coastal locations.
South Africa typically experiences snowfall during its winter months of June through August, with temperatures dropping below 0°C (32°F). Additionally, the nation frequently faces flooding, exacerbated by climate change that scientists say intensifies rainfall patterns in the area. Flash floods and overfilling rivers between April 30 and May 2 previously inflicted damage on around 4,500 homes, with 18 injuries reported.
