Latest news with #LubabaloOscarMabuyane
Al Arabiya
4 hours 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.
Times of Oman
9 hours ago
- Climate
- Times of Oman
South Africa winter storm leaves over 40 dead
At least 49 people have died in South Africa after heavy rains caused major flooding Eastern Cape province, officials said on Wednesday. The largely rural region, which stretches from the Indian Ocean into high inland mountains, has been battered by heavy rain and snow since the weekend. Much of South Africa has been struck by heavy rainfall and bitterly cold conditions in the past days. "We have never seen this kind of combination of snow and torrential rains in winter simultaneously," Eastern Cape premier Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane told reporters. Schoolchildren among the dead Among those who perished were four children on a school minibus that was swept away by the waters, provincial authorities said. "Sadly, four of those learners have been confirmed to be deceased, together with the driver and the conductor of the minibus taxi," Mabuyane said. "Four learners are still missing and are still being looked for," he continued, adding that three others had been found alive.
RTHK
11 hours ago
- Climate
- 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)
Express Tribune
18 hours ago
- Climate
- Express Tribune
South Africa flood death toll rises to 49 as harsh winter storms continue
A resident walks across a flooded road following severe weather with heavy rain from a cold front in Masiphumelele, Cape Town, South Africa on May 20, 2025. Photo: Reuters/ File Listen to article 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 Wednesday, June 11. 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 school minibus bus was carrying 13 people, 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. "Search and recovery operations are continuing across all affected areas," he said. The torrential rains over recent days, which also caused landslides, had forced hundreds of families to leave their homes and "significant damage on critical infrastructures," he said. On Tuesday, three children were rescued after spending hours in trees to escape rising waters, authorities said. Lack of resources Several hundred people had been displaced since Monday, mainly from OR Tambo and Amathole districts, with some moved to schools and town halls. Mabuyane told public broadcaster SABC News earlier that only one helicopter was available in the province. "We need more resources," he said. "We have never experienced disasters like this, but now it's inevitable with climate change and global warming." President Cyril Ramaphosa said in a statement that harsh winter conditions "remain life-threatening," adding that emergency services, including support from the National Disaster Management Centre, were "giving the requisite attention to crises as they unfold." He called on South Africans "to display caution, care and cooperation as the worst impacts of winter weather take effect." 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. 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 drought, floods and wildfires, according to the Green Climate Fund.
Free Malaysia Today
21 hours ago
- Climate
- Free Malaysia Today
49 killed in South African flooding, children missing
South Africa is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate variability and change. (AFP pic) JOHANNESBURG : 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 today. 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 bus 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. 'Search and recovery operations are continuing across all affected areas,' he said. The torrential rains over recent days, which also caused landslides, had forced hundreds of families to leave their homes and 'significant damage on critical infrastructures', he said. Yesterday, three children were rescued after spending hours in trees to escape rising waters, authorities said. Lack of resources Several hundred people had been displaced since Monday, mainly from OR Tambo and Amathole districts, with some moved to schools and town halls. Mabuyane told public broadcaster SABC News earlier that only one helicopter was available in the province. 'We need more resources,' he said. 'We have never experienced disasters like this but now it's inevitable with climate change and global warming.' President Cyril Ramaphosa said in a statement that harsh winter conditions 'remain life-threatening' adding that emergency services, including support from the national disaster management centre, were 'giving the requisite attention to crises as they unfold'. He called on South Africans 'to display caution, care and cooperation as the worst impacts of winter weather take effect'. 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. 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 drought, floods and wildfires, according to the Green Climate Fund.
