Severe flooding caused by torrential rain on South Africa’s eastern coast has resulted in at least 18 deaths, local authorities reported on Tuesday.
Seven fatalities were confirmed in the Eastern Cape province, according to a spokesperson from the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality, the epicenter of the flooding.
In the neighboring province of KwaZulu-Natal, at least 11 people have died in and around the port city of Durban, the provincial government stated.
More than 2,000 residents have been evacuated from Nelson Mandela Bay, primarily from makeshift homes in the municipality’s slums. Local authorities have issued an appeal for donations of clothing, food, and blankets to assist those affected.
Provincial authorities in KwaZulu-Natal have declared a state of alert. A provincial government statement noted that “55 people suffered minor to moderate injuries and are receiving medical treatment in hospitals. At least 120 people have been displaced, and three temporary shelters have been established.”
Durban and its surrounding area experienced South Africa’s worst flooding in history in 2022, which caused mudslides that killed over 400 people.
Rescue services were deployed in both affected provinces on Monday night as homes were flattened, roads flooded, and trees felled. Some areas also experienced power outages.
The national meteorological institute indicated that South Africa is currently under a “cut-off low” pressure system characterized by heavy rains and a cold snap, which can bring hail, snow, and strong winds.
Heavy rainfall has struck the eastern Indian Ocean coast, prompting meteorological services to issue weather alerts in four of the country’s nine provinces.
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