South Africa declared a national state of disaster Thursday as flooding in the Eastern Cape claimed 92 lives, shaking the coastal province to its core.
The Eastern Cape government marked the tragedy with a solemn Day of Mourning and a memorial at Mthatha’s King Sabatha Dalindyebo TVET College.
Zolile Williams, an executive council member, described the province’s pain since June 9, calling the floods catastrophic and unprecedented in scale.
“Since that day, the Eastern Cape has not been the same,” Williams said, mourning many bodies still missing beneath the waters.
An extreme weather front unleashed heavy rain, fierce winds, and snow, devastating one of South Africa’s poorest regions last week.
Floods destroyed homes, roads, schools, and critical infrastructure, forcing thousands from their homes and leaving communities vulnerable.
Among the missing are at least two schoolchildren swept away while traveling by bus, according to local reports.
Officials urged residents to report missing persons to aid rescue operations and better assess the disaster’s toll.
Hundreds gathered at the memorial, where Christian leaders lit candles in a moving tribute to the 92 lives lost.
National Disaster Management Centre director Elias Sithole said the floods caused widespread property damage and service disruptions in multiple provinces.
The disaster declaration unlocks government funding for relief and reconstruction, and will stay in effect until conditions improve or are reassessed.
President Cyril Ramaphosa recently visited Mthatha, witnessing firsthand the devastation faced by flood survivors.
Most victims lived on floodplains near rivers, with informal settlements suffering the greatest damage, exposing vulnerabilities in infrastructure and emergency response.
Critics have condemned the government’s rescue efforts and long-standing neglect of basic services in vulnerable communities.
As rebuilding begins, Eastern Cape confronts the harsh reality of nature’s fury and the urgent need for resilience.
