Latest news with #KhuselwaRantjie
Al Arabiya
a day ago
- Climate
- Al Arabiya
Search resumes after floods kill 49 in South Africa
Rescue teams in South Africa raced on Thursday to reach survivors after heavy rains flooded parts of an eastern province, with 49 people already confirmed dead and fears the toll could rise. Torrential rains and freezing temperatures struck the largely rural and underdeveloped Eastern Cape on Monday, causing major flooding that submerged houses and swept away at least one minibus transporting children to school, four of whom were still missing. 'We may have more people unaccounted for,' Eastern Cape government spokesperson Khuselwa Rantjie told AFP. Rantjie said that five teams were involved in search and rescue efforts around the city of Mthatha, about 800 kilometers (500 miles) south of Johannesburg. Among the 49 confirmed dead, at least four were children, the province's top official, Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane, said on Wednesday. They had been in a school minibus carrying 11 children that was swept away by high water. Authorities said four children and two adults in the bus were confirmed to have died, while three children were found alive. 'We have never seen this kind of combination of snow and torrential rains in winter simultaneously,' Mabuyane said. 'We are reeling,' Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube told public broadcaster SABC News in an interview from Mthatha early Thursday. She said that in addition to the schoolgoers in the minibus, a boy died when he was swept away by water while walking to school. Images on local media showed houses completely under water and rescue teams wading through the mud. Around 600 people have been displaced, the provincial government said, with many sheltering in community halls. There was also significant damage to infrastructure, including to power and water supplies, with at least 20 health facilities affected, local authorities said. The province, where Nelson Mandela was born, is among the poorest in the country, with 72 percent of its population living below the poverty line, according to the Southern African Regional Poverty Network. President Cyril Ramaphosa said in a statement that emergency services, including the National Disaster Management Centre, were 'giving the requisite attention to crises as they unfold.' Snow and heavy rainfall are common during winter in South Africa, but the country is also highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate variability and change, which increases the frequency and severity of droughts, floods, and wildfires, according to the Green Climate Fund.
Al Arabiya
2 days ago
- Climate
- Al Arabiya
South Africa flooding toll rises to nine, children missing
The death toll from flooding in eastern parts of South Africa has risen to nine as rescuers search for children missing after a minibus was swept away, the local government said on Wednesday. Heavy snowfall and storms have affected areas of the Eastern Cape province, with the entire country experiencing extreme winter weather conditions since last week. Torrential rains in the OR Tambo district have now claimed nine lives, a statement from the local government said, raising an earlier toll of seven. The search for missing children aboard a school bus that was swept away by a flood was ongoing early on Wednesday, it added. Khuselwa Rantjie, spokeswoman for the Eastern Cape Provincial Government, told AFP she could not confirm how many children or adults were on the bus. Local media have reported that at least 10 children are missing. Separately, three children were rescued after spending hours in trees to escape rising waters near the city of Mthatha, one of the areas hardest hit. Several hundred people have been displaced since Monday, according to the government, mainly from OR Tambo and Amathole districts, with some relocated in schools and town halls. The local authority said it was providing hot meals and essentials to those housed in temporary shelters with support from several government agencies. The 'relentless downpours' also caused landslides and 'significant damage to property and infrastructure,' the government added. South Africa's national weather service has warned that severe and extreme winter weather conditions would persist until at least the middle of this week.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Schoolchildren swept away as heavy floods and snow hit South Africa
A minibus carrying schoolchildren has been swept away by heavy flooding in South Africa, a spokesperson for the Eastern Cape provincial government has told the BBC. Khuselwa Rantjie said it was unclear how many children were on the bus, but three had so far been found alive. Rescue efforts had been suspended as night had fallen and would resume on Wednesday, she added. In a separate incident, the bodies of seven people carried away by flood water have been found in the province's OR Tambo district. South Africa has been hit by heavy snow, rains and gale force winds that have claimed the lives of a further five people in a road accident, and have left nearly 500,000 homes without electricity. The Eastern Cape - the birthplace of anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela - has been worst-affected by the icy conditions, along with KwaZulu-Natal province. The bad weather has forced the closure of some major roads in the two provinces to avoid further casualties. "This is a devastating reminder of nature's force. We urge everyone to exercise extra caution in areas prone to flooding," Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane said in a statement. Five people died when a minibus taxi overturned near the coastal city of East London, with the driver saying he had lost control as he was trying to avoid a fallen tree, Eastern Cape transport department spokesperson, Unathi Binqose, told the BBC. Two people were injured in the accident, he added. State power utility Eskom said that almost 300,000 homes had been hit by electricity cuts in 14 towns and villages in Eastern Cape. A further 196,000 homes in 24 areas in KwaZulu-Natal were also experiencing power cuts, Eskom spokesperson Daphne Mokwena told the BBC. KwaZulu-Natal Transport Minister Siboniso Duma said that heavy snow had led to lorries being stuck on roads, causing huge congestion. Grader machines have been stationed on worst-affected roads to clear snow before it reached more than 30cm (12in) in depth. Meteorologist Lehlohonolo Thobela also warned of strong winds and heavy waves at sea, making navigation for ships difficult. Both Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal are along the coast. South Africa regularly receives snowfall during its winter months, from June through August, with temperatures diving below 0C (32F). There is also regular flooding and scientists say that climate change is causing heavier rainfall in the region. Flash floods and overflowing rivers between 30 April and 2 May caused significant damage to about 4,500 homes, and left 18 people injured. Unpacking the South African land law that so inflames Trump Rebuked by Trump but praised at home: How Ramaphosa might gain from US showdown Tears and heartbreak over tragic story of South African girl sold by her mother Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Focus on Africa This Is Africa
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Schoolchildren swept away as heavy floods and snow hit South Africa
A minibus carrying schoolchildren has been swept away by heavy flooding in South Africa, a spokesperson for the Eastern Cape provincial government has told the BBC. Khuselwa Rantjie said it was unclear how many children were on the bus, but three had so far been found alive. Rescue efforts had been suspended as night had fallen and would resume on Wednesday, she added. In a separate incident, the bodies of seven people carried away by flood water have been found in the province's OR Tambo district. South Africa has been hit by heavy snow, rains and gale force winds that have claimed the lives of a further five people in a road accident, and have left nearly 500,000 homes without electricity. The Eastern Cape - the birthplace of anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela - has been worst-affected by the icy conditions, along with KwaZulu-Natal province. The bad weather has forced the closure of some major roads in the two provinces to avoid further casualties. "This is a devastating reminder of nature's force. We urge everyone to exercise extra caution in areas prone to flooding," Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane said in a statement. Five people died when a minibus taxi overturned near the coastal city of East London, with the driver saying he had lost control as he was trying to avoid a fallen tree, Eastern Cape transport department spokesperson, Unathi Binqose, told the BBC. Two people were injured in the accident, he added. State power utility Eskom said that almost 300,000 homes had been hit by electricity cuts in 14 towns and villages in Eastern Cape. A further 196,000 homes in 24 areas in KwaZulu-Natal were also experiencing power cuts, Eskom spokesperson Daphne Mokwena told the BBC. KwaZulu-Natal Transport Minister Siboniso Duma said that heavy snow had led to lorries being stuck on roads, causing huge congestion. Grader machines have been stationed on worst-affected roads to clear snow before it reached more than 30cm (12in) in depth. Meteorologist Lehlohonolo Thobela also warned of strong winds and heavy waves at sea, making navigation for ships difficult. Both Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal are along the coast. South Africa regularly receives snowfall during its winter months, from June through August, with temperatures diving below 0C (32F). There is also regular flooding and scientists say that climate change is causing heavier rainfall in the region. Flash floods and overflowing rivers between 30 April and 2 May caused significant damage to about 4,500 homes, and left 18 people injured. Unpacking the South African land law that so inflames Trump Rebuked by Trump but praised at home: How Ramaphosa might gain from US showdown Tears and heartbreak over tragic story of South African girl sold by her mother Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Focus on Africa This Is Africa
