The devastating floods in the Eastern Cape have claimed 49 lives, with scores others missing.
This was revealed by Premier Oscar Mabuyane during a media briefing in Mthatha.
The torrential rains over the recent days have caused devastating landslides and flooding, leaving hundreds of families displaced as well as significant damage to critical infrastructure.
The O.R. Tambo and Amathole District Municipalities are the worst affected areas.
“As of this afternoon, 49 of our fellow citizens have sadly lost their lives in the O.R. Tambo District Municipality.
Among them, we mourn the tragic loss of children whose scholar transport was swept away in flood waters.
The number of people confirmed to have been in the minibus is 13 learners, with two adults, the driver and his assistant.
Sadly, four of those learners are deceased together with the driver and his assistant, four learners are still missing, and rescue teams are searching for them,” said Mabuyane.
Mabuyane highlighted that the deceased are of different ages.
The inclement weather submerged most houses built-in low-lying areas, leaving people trapped on their house’s roofs, while others were stuck on trees.
The Premier bemoaned that most of the destroyed housed were built on the river flood lines, with some submerged in water as high as 2.5 to 3metres, as residents disregarded municipal bylaws not to construct houses on these areas.
According to Mabuyane, all government departments are providing relief support operations to those affected by the floods.
“We continue to provide shelter, food, psychosocial support services, blankets and other essentials to displaced families, through other government entities and the private sector, and NGOs.
Other districts have been impacted by snowfall, which has affected the roads and caused power outages.
The floods have also affected informal settlements in Amathole, and many of our people have been relocated to temporary shelters,” explained Mabuyane.
