South Africa Flood Disaster Leaves 57 Dead, Dozens Displaced
Rescue teams struggle due to lack of helicopters, divers, and resources as search continues for the missing.
- At least 57 people have died in severe flooding in South Africa’s Eastern Cape.
- Rescue efforts were delayed due to limited emergency resources and infrastructure
- Heavy rains caused a river to overflow, damaging homes, schools, and critical services
The death toll from devastating floods in South Africa’s Eastern Cape has climbed to 57, as government officials admit that a lack of resources critically hampered rescue operations.
Floodwaters swept through the province in the early hours of Tuesday after heavy rains caused a river to overflow, hitting the town of Mthatha and surrounding areas the hardest. Entire homes and vehicles were washed away, with victims caught in the surging waters.
Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane described the flooding as a nightmare that struck while many residents were still asleep. In some areas, water levels rose as high as 3 to 4 meters (10–13 feet), overwhelming communities without warning.
“We simply didn’t have the resources to respond properly,” Mabuyane told national broadcaster SABC. He noted the region has only one rescue helicopter, which had to be flown in from Gqeberha, over 500 kilometers (310 miles) away. The province also lacks specialist rescue divers and K-9 units, which had to be brought in from other regions.
Mabuyane characterized the emergency response as “paralyzed” and expressed frustration over the region’s chronic under-resourcing. “When disasters like this happen, we are always found wanting,” he said.
Emergency crews have been working through floodwaters and debris in search of missing persons. Some survivors were found clinging to trees or rooftops, calling for help for hours. Bodies have been recovered in blue bags, while authorities fear more people may still be unaccounted for.
The national government sent a delegation led by Cooperative Governance Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa, who confirmed the latest death toll. He called the situation a “catastrophe,” partly worsened by the fact that many victims lived on flood plains near the river.
The bulk of the casualties—51 people—were in the O.R. Tambo district, with another six reported dead in the neighboring Amathole district. Among the missing were four high school students swept away when their school bus was caught in the flood. Authorities have not confirmed if these students were among the newly recovered bodies.
So far, at least 127 schools and 20 healthcare facilities have been damaged, and roughly 1,000 people are now living in temporary shelters. Critical infrastructure, including roads and bridges, has also been severely impacted.
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced he will visit the affected region on Friday and has activated the National Disaster Management Center to coordinate relief efforts. Meanwhile, opposition parties have condemned the government’s lack of preparedness, with the Economic Freedom Fighters accusing it of “government neglect” in underserved parts of the province.
The floods followed an extreme cold front that brought torrential rain, strong winds, and snow to much of eastern and southern South Africa. Weather warnings had been issued in advance, but the scale of the disaster has revealed deep vulnerabilities in the region’s emergency response capacity.
