Devastating floods have swept through six provinces in South Africa, claiming the lives of at least 10 people and leaving thousands of homes in ruins since the severe weather began on May 4.
Government officials have officially declared a natural disaster in response to the widespread flooding, severe thunderstorms, powerful winds, and even snowfall that have impacted the Western Cape, North West, Free State, Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, and Mpumalanga provinces. This official designation allows authorities to access emergency funding and deploy additional resources for disaster response.
Cape Town has experienced some of the worst damage, prompting the Western Cape provincial government to temporarily shut down schools and close portions of the popular Table Mountain tourist site. Officials reported Tuesday that flooding has impacted no fewer than 26 informal settlements surrounding the city, with more than 10,000 structures suffering damage.
President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed his grief Monday over the weather-related deaths as the Southern Hemisphere enters its winter season, stating he felt “deep sadness” about the loss of life.
“Authorities are making the best use of science to pre-empt some of these events and to respond to the aftermath,” Ramaphosa said.
Climate experts warn that severe flooding throughout Southern Africa is becoming more intense due to extreme weather conditions. Mozambique, South Africa, and Zimbabwe have all experienced exceptionally heavy rainfall in recent months, creating what many consider the region’s most devastating flooding in years.
This marks the second time this year South Africa has faced such extreme weather conditions. In January, officials declared a national disaster following torrential rains and flooding in the northern region that killed at least 30 people, damaged thousands of homes, and destroyed critical infrastructure including roads and bridges.
