A woman is seen through a damaged wall hanging her clothes on a makeshift laundry line in Ntuzuma, on the outskirts of Durban, South Africa, on Wednesday. Flooding in the Durban region of South Africa has killed at least 259 people.
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A woman is seen through a damaged wall hanging her clothes on a makeshift laundry line in Ntuzuma, on the outskirts of Durban, South Africa, on Wednesday. Flooding in the Durban region of South Africa has killed at least 259 people.
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JOHANNESBURG – Flooding in South Africa’s Durban region has claimed the lives of at least 259 people and is a “disaster of great proportions,” President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Wednesday.
“This disaster is part of climate change. It is telling us that climate change is serious, it is here,” said Ramaphosa while visiting flooded areas of Durban and the metropolitan area. market eThekwini around.
“We can no longer delay what we need to do and the measures we need to take to deal with climate change,” he said.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, left, talks to various grieving family members, during his visit and assessment of damage after heavy rain resulted in road collapse, property damage and loss of life in South Africa outside of Durban.
Kopano Tlape / South African Government Information and Communication Service via AP
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South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, left, talks to various grieving family members, during his visit and assessment of damage after heavy rain resulted in road collapse, property damage and loss of life in South Africa outside of Durban.
Kopano Tlape / South African Government Information and Communication Service via AP
Officials said the death toll is expected to continue to rise as search and rescue operations continue in KwaZulu-Natal province. Ramaphosa said the province is about to be declared a disaster zone.
“KwaZulu-Natal will be declared a disaster area, so we can do things quickly. Bridges have collapsed, roads collapsed, dead and injured people,” said Ramaphosa.
He said one family had lost 10 members in the terrible flood.
People had to leave their homes as they were swept away, buildings collapsed and road infrastructure was severely damaged. The port of Durban flooded and shipping containers were swept into a mess.
Shipping containers are carried away and left in a flood mess in Isipingo, south of Durban, South Africa on Tuesday.
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Shipping containers are carried away and left in a flood mess in Isipingo, south of Durban, South Africa on Tuesday.
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Authorities are also looking to restore power to large areas of the province following massive flooding at various power stations.
General Rudzani Maphwanya said rescue efforts by the South African National Defense Force had stalled as the army wing was also affected by the floods. The military was able to deploy personnel and helicopters around the province on Wednesday, he said.
The South African Weather Service has warned of continued wind and rain and a continued risk of flooding in Kwazulu-Natal and other provinces over the upcoming Easter weekend. It said the Eastern Cape, Free State and Northwestern provinces of South Africa could be affected.
Stranded people stand in front of a washed-out bridge in Ntuzuma, on the outskirts of Durban, South Africa, on Tuesday.
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Stranded people stand in front of a washed-out bridge in Ntuzuma, on the outskirts of Durban, South Africa, on Tuesday.
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