At least 49 people have been confirmed dead following devastating floods in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province, as torrential rain, snow and icy winds batter large parts of the country.
Provincial Premier Oscar Mabuyane described the situation as “escalating hour after hour”, with rescue teams continuing to search for survivors. Among the victims are four schoolchildren, a bus driver and a conductor, whose vehicle was swept away by floodwaters in the town of Mthatha on Tuesday morning.
Mabuyane confirmed that the bus had been located on a riverbank with no occupants inside. Three children were later found clinging to trees and rescued alive, according to public broadcaster SABC.
Officials now say there were 13 people aboard the school bus, 11 of them pupils. Rescue efforts are ongoing to find the four remaining missing children.
On Wednesday morning, Mabuyane visited the scene and met residents in the village of Decoligny, near Mthatha, where hundreds of people have been displaced and forced to take shelter in temporary accommodation.
The flooding and severe winter weather have left nearly half a million homes without electricity since Tuesday, with state utility Eskom working to restore power.
President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed his condolences to the bereaved families and called on South Africans to “display caution, care and cooperation as the worst impacts of winter weather take effect across the country”.
The Eastern Cape, the birthplace of former President Nelson Mandela, and neighbouring KwaZulu-Natal have borne the brunt of the conditions. Authorities have shut major roads in both provinces to prevent further tragedies.
With rescue and relief operations continuing, officials have urged residents to remain indoors and adhere to safety advisories as the country contends with some of its harshest winter weather in recent memory.
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