South Africa’s President Visits Flood Sites as Death Toll Reaches 78
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa visited flood-hit areas where the death toll has reached 78 and is expected to rise. His visit comes amid criticism of the government’s response to the disaster, which was exacerbated by a lack of necessary resources. The search for missing individuals continues, with many victims being swept away, particularly children. Concerns about disaster preparedness in vulnerable regions have been raised.
In South Africa, President Cyril Ramaphosa visited the flood-ravaged southeastern region where at least 78 fatalities have been reported and rescue efforts continue. The floods began on Tuesday, primarily affecting the town of Mthatha in Eastern Cape province, prompting ongoing search operations as authorities brace for an increasing death toll.
During his visit, Ramaphosa met with officials from the National Disaster Management Center and examined a bridge where a school bus was swept away. Tragically, six students along with a bus driver and another adult have lost their lives, and four students remain unaccounted for amidst the disaster’s aftermath.
Concerns have arisen about the adequacy of the response from local authorities. The disaster, attributed to an unexpected weather front that unleashed torrential rains, strong winds, and even snow, caught many off guard early Tuesday morning. The provincial premier criticized the initial rescue efforts as being “paralyzed” due to insufficient resources like specialized teams and emergency equipment available in one of the nation’s impoverished areas.
Oscar Mabuyane, the Eastern Cape Premier, highlighted that the province, with a population of 7.2 million, has only one official rescue helicopter, which was brought in from over 310 miles away. While expressing heartfelt condolences for the lives lost, Ramaphosa asserted that the situation could have been worse, given the scale of the flooding.
Officials are now faced with the grim reality that many victims have been swept away or trapped within their homes. Though the rain has stopped and water levels are receding, rescuers are still scouring the inundated areas and wreckage for any signs of those missing. Many of the deceased are children.
Zinathi Vuso, a local resident, described the harrowing scenes that unfolded, stating, “I need psychological help because I saw people dying in front of me. They were being dragged by the water along with the corrugated iron. Others tried to hold or climb onto something, but it would break and they ended up dead.”
Authorities report that bodies have been discovered as far as two kilometers from their original locations during the flooding. Meanwhile, the government is urging residents to report any missing friends or family members to aid in ongoing searches, as emphasized by Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa.
Hlabisa warned, “We are in a crisis. A real disaster… The more water subsides, the more people will be found.” Coastal areas of South Africa remain vulnerable to severe weather conditions from the Indian and Southern Oceans. The Eastern Cape floods were particularly catastrophic for impoverished communities, many of whom reside in informal dwellings on flood-prone land.
The aftermath of previous natural disasters in the region, such as the more than 400 casualties in Durban in 2022, underline the urgent need for enhanced emergency preparedness in South Africa.
The tragic floods in South Africa’s Eastern Cape have resulted in at least 78 confirmed deaths, with hopes of finding more victims still in search. Critical questions surround the adequacy of the response from local authorities in dealing with the disaster, especially in one of the country’s poorest regions, as rescue efforts continue amid ongoing recovery efforts and investigations. As the impact of extreme weather events grows, concerns about preparedness and resource allocation become more pronounced, highlighting a pressing need for improvement.
Original Source: www.wral.com
