49 killed in South African flooding, children missing
49 killed in South African flooding, children missing
The torrential rains over recent days have forced hundreds of families to leave their homes. Photo: AFP
The death toll from flooding in eastern parts of South Africa has risen to 49, including four children on a school bus that was swept away, a provincial governor said on Wednesday.
Heavy rainfall, snow and cold winds have particularly affected areas of the Eastern Cape province, with most of the country experiencing brutal winter weather conditions since last week.
"As of now, the stats have escalated to 49" deaths, Eastern Cape premier Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane told reporters, citing police figures.
The dead included four children on a school minibus taxi carrying 13 people that was swept away by a flood near the city of Mthatha, Mabuyane said.
"Sadly, four of those learners have been confirmed to be deceased, together with the driver and the conductor of the minibus taxi," he said.
"Four learners are still missing and are still being looked for."
Three others had been found alive, he said.
Mabuyane did not give details of the other victims of the severe winter storm and said the situation was evolving. (AFP)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RTHK
18 hours ago
- RTHK
Thousands evacuated as Wutip bears down on Hainan
Thousands evacuated as Wutip bears down on Hainan The province's 30,721 fishing vessels have taken shelter and over 40,000 fishermen have been evacuated ashore. File photo: AFP Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated to safety on Hainan as Wutip, the first typhoon of the year, bears down on the province. As of 8pm on Thursday, the province had evacuated a total of 16,561 people from construction sites, low-lying flood-prone areas, and regions at risk of flash floods. All of the province's 30,721 fishing vessels had either returned to ports or taken shelter elsewhere, with over 40,000 people working on the vessels having been evacuated ashore. As Typhoon Wutip continues to strengthen, the provincial meteorological service maintained a Level III typhoon alert on Friday. Maximum sustained winds near the storm's centre as of 10am were 28 metres per second. According to meteorological forecasts at noon, Typhoon Wutip is expected to move northwards at a speed of five to 10 kilometres per hour, with little change in intensity. Wutip may make landfall or brush the coast between Ledong county and Dongfang City on Friday as a severe tropical storm, packing winds of 25 to 28 metres per second. (Xinhua)
RTHK
2 days ago
- RTHK
49 killed in South African flooding, children missing
49 killed in South African flooding, children missing The torrential rains over recent days have forced hundreds of families to leave their homes. Photo: AFP The death toll from flooding in eastern parts of South Africa has risen to 49, including four children on a school bus that was swept away, a provincial governor said on Wednesday. Heavy rainfall, snow and cold winds have particularly affected areas of the Eastern Cape province, with most of the country experiencing brutal winter weather conditions since last week. "As of now, the stats have escalated to 49" deaths, Eastern Cape premier Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane told reporters, citing police figures. The dead included four children on a school minibus taxi carrying 13 people that was swept away by a flood near the city of Mthatha, Mabuyane said. "Sadly, four of those learners have been confirmed to be deceased, together with the driver and the conductor of the minibus taxi," he said. "Four learners are still missing and are still being looked for." Three others had been found alive, he said. Mabuyane did not give details of the other victims of the severe winter storm and said the situation was evolving. (AFP)
RTHK
5 days ago
- RTHK
Powerful 6.3 magnitude quake shakes Bogota
Powerful 6.3 magnitude quake shakes Bogota Buildings shook, sirens blared around the capital and people rushed out into the streets. Photo: AFP A powerful, shallow 6.3-magnitude earthquake shook the Colombian capital of Bogota early on Sunday, according to the United States Geological Survey. The shallow quake struck near the city of Paratebueno in central Colombia, some 170 kilometres east of Bogota, the USGS said. Buildings shook, sirens blared around the capital and people rushed out into the streets, while social media users posted videos of swinging lights and furniture. Scores of people gathered in parks and outside buildings in their pajamas, with parents trying to calm frightened kids and others looking for pets that had run away. "This was very strong," said an elderly lady in Bogota trying to make her way down several flights of steps. Bogota's security department said on X that emergency workers were conducting a sweep of the city to look for damage and provide assistance. Central Colombia is in a zone of high seismic activity. A 6.2 magnitude quake there in 1999, not far from Ansermanuevo, claimed nearly 1,200 lives. (AFP)
