A severe flood in the east coast province of South Africa earlier this week has left at least 341 people dead, the government said on Thursday, as rescuers continue to search for missing people as it is predicted there will be more rains from Friday. ” “341 people have died,” KwaZulu-Natal Premier SihleZikalala told an online press conference. billions of dollars”he says, calling the floods “the worst disaster in the history of our province and possibly our country”
A resident of Isipingo says
The province was declared a disaster area on Wednesday after torrential rains over the weekend and heavy rains on Monday flooded homes, washed away roads and bridges, disrupted shipping in one of Africa’s busiest ports, and shipping containers eroded elsewhere. We have nothing. I don’t even have a bed, said SomiMalizole, who lives in the Isipingo informal settlement, inspecting his tin shack where it has eroded. he fled his home after a flood and was left empty. From Thursday Mfencane had been waiting for help from the government.
Citizens’ problem
“The area is always flooded but this time it is very bad, we have never seen anything like it,” said Mfencane. On Thursday, residents in some areas went on a rampage in search of clean water in broken pipes and water tanks after the municipality’s services, including electricity, were cut off. “We have no water, no electricity. It was difficult,” said ThabisileMathumbu, adding that communities had not been given advance warning of heavy rains. “We should have been warned.”
The government is still counting the number of missing and homeless people, said Premier Zikalala. The disaster has caused damage to 248 schools, and there are serious disruptions to water and electricity supply, although efforts are being made to restore normalcy, he said.
Global warming expectations
The southeastern coast of Africa is one of the world’s largest marine mammals, which scientists believe is worsening due to global warming. They expect the situation to get worse in the coming decades.
President Cyril Ramaphosa, who visited the province on Wednesday, described the disaster as “a major catastrophe,” adding that it was “clearly part of a climate change”. We can no longer postpone what we need to do, which is the steps we need to take. taking action to adapt to climate change. Our capacity for disaster management must be at the highest level, ”Ramaphosa told crowds in Ntuzuma township, Durban, without elaborating.
No major structural damage
The floods came as the province recovered after days of arson attacks in which more than 300 people were killed. Despite the unrest in many parts of the country, KwaZulu-Natal is the worst affected as many businesses have been disrupted. damage.
Restoration is a challenge
Dealer Truworths said on Tuesday 37 stores were closed, but “many items have returned to normal in our stores and our builders” the next day. Mobile operator MTN said on Wednesday it had managed to reclaim more than 278 sites, including towers, in Umlazi and Amanzimtoti. But the rising rains created a challenge to recover and led to landslides, he added. Transport and freight company Transnet, Sappi and budget freight forwarder Pepkor also saw the disruption. But in an evening statement, Transnet said. has begun transporting from the port of Durban from Thursday afternoon and six containers exported by train to Durban.
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