South Africa | Death Toll Rises To 306 And Counting
South Africa | Death Toll Rises To 306
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At least 306 people died in floods caused by torrential rains in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal, neighboring Mozambique, according to a provisional assessment by the South African authorities.
South Africa |According to the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, quoted by the local press, the number of victims rose from 259 to 306 on Wednesday night.
“Municipal services, such as electricity, water, and garbage collection, have already resumed in some areas,” he said.
The Government today declared the provincial state of calamity in KwaZulu-Natal, where devastating floods caused by torrential rains, which have worsened since last Friday, caused widespread destruction on the country’s eastern coast.
The South African Armed Forces (SANDF) were mobilized to provide air support during evacuations after homes, businesses, roads, bridges, as well as electricity, water and sanitation infrastructure were damaged or completely destroyed.
The President of the Republic Cyril Ramaphosa, who visited today the most affected areas in the region of the port city of Durban, described the situation as “a catastrophe of enormous proportions”.
The South African head of state said that the other provinces of the country are sending humanitarian aid, resources and people to KwaZulu-Natal, stressing that the national government is also making efforts to provide financial assistance to the province, as well as support for victims’ families with “funerals, shelter, food and blankets”.
At least 248 schools were damaged by the floods, the KZN Education Department announced today.
The mayor of Durban (now eThekwini), Mxolisi Kaunda, said on Tuesday, at a press conference, that the destruction of municipal infrastructure “is widespread”.
South African state-owned Transnet, responsible for managing the country’s ports and railways, has suspended port activity at the port of Durban, the continent’s largest, since Monday, due to devastating floods.
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