South Africa has declared a national disaster after relentless rains and floods killed at least 30 people in the country’s northern provinces, destroyed thousands of homes, and washed away roads and bridges.
The announcement, made by the head of the National Disaster Management Center, empowers the national government to coordinate emergency responses and allocate resources to affected areas.
The hardest-hit regions are Limpopo and Mpumalanga, where most fatalities have occurred. Authorities confirmed that three additional provinces have also experienced severe flooding.
Heavy rains have plagued parts of South Africa, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe for weeks, resulting in widespread flooding. Since late last year, more than 100 people have died across the three countries due to the extreme weather.
In Limpopo and Mpumalanga, flooding forced the closure of the renowned Kruger National Park. Hundreds of tourists and park staff were evacuated from submerged camps. The park, covering roughly 2,000 hectares and bordering Mozambique and Zimbabwe, suffered extensive damage but is expected to reopen soon.
Limpopo’s provincial premier estimated the damage in the province at around $240 million, with entire homes and buildings washed away. Rescue teams are still searching for four missing people, including 5-year-old Siyanda Baloyi, swept away when his home flooded last Thursday.
In a separate incident, a government official in Ekurhuleni municipality, east of Johannesburg, went missing after his vehicle was swept away in Mozambique. Other passengers, including Andile Mngwevu, remain unaccounted for.
South Africa has faced a series of deadly floods in recent years. Over 100 people died in the Eastern Cape last year, while floods in KwaZulu-Natal in 2022 claimed more than 400 lives.
Authorities continue to warn residents to exercise caution as recovery and rescue operations proceed in affected areas.
