Horror in South Africa as 30 killed in natural disaster | World | News
A national disaster has been declared in South Africa after torrential rains and widespread flooding killed at least 30 people in the country’s northern regions. The storms also destroyed thousands of homes and made roads and bridges impassable.
The declaration, made by the head of the National Disaster Management Center and approved by the government, allows authorities to coordinate a nationwide response to the crisis. Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces were hardest hit, accounting for all reported deaths, but at least three other provinces were affected. After rivers overflowed and flooded entire neighborhoods, floods also occurred in parts of Mozambique, forcing thousands of people from their homes, including a woman who gave birth to her baby on the roof while seeking refuge from the waters.
Chauna Macuacua, who lives in Gaza province north of Maputo, told AFP that her sister-in-law gave birth on the roof where the family had been waiting to be rescued since Thursday.
“We have been here for 4 days. My nephew was born around 23:00 yesterday and still no rescue or assistance has been provided for either the baby or the mother,” he said.
“I classify the disaster as a national disaster,” Elias Sithole, head of South Africa’s National Disaster Management Centre, said on Sunday.
Rescue teams continued to search for survivors and recover bodies throughout the weekend, even as floodwaters began to recede in some areas, including the Kruger National Park, which was closed and evacuated on Thursday.
South African National Parks says on social media, “Daily visits to the park will continue from tomorrow” and urges visitors to “be careful.”
Leading officials in Limpopo estimated the loss in the province at around $240 million after the destruction of scores of homes and buildings.
According to figures announced by the Mozambican government on Friday, February 16, more than 173,000 people were affected by the floods across the country.
