MTHATHA, South Africa (BN24) — The death toll from severe flooding in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province has climbed to 86, with search-and-rescue teams continuing efforts to locate the missing nearly a week after torrential waters swept through the region, authorities confirmed Saturday.
Police Minister Senzo Mchunu visited the affected area, including the hard-hit town of Mthatha, where teams have been retrieving bodies from the floodwaters since the disaster struck in the early hours of Tuesday.
Mchunu described the floods as a “tragedy of immense proportions,” while also urging residents to dismiss widely circulated false claims on social media alleging that the disaster was triggered by the opening of sluice gates at the Mthatha Dam. “The Mthatha Dam does not have sluice gates,” Mchunu emphasized, addressing speculation that mismanagement had exacerbated the flooding.
President Cyril Ramaphosa, who toured the devastated area on Friday, said an investigation would be conducted to determine whether any structural issues with the dam contributed to the flooding. He noted that a wall of water 3 to 4 meters high surged from the river, sweeping away homes and residents and trapping many inside as waters rose.
Ramaphosa linked the flooding to climate change, warning that South Africa’s coastal and low-lying regions are increasingly vulnerable to weather-related disasters. He cited the 2022 Durban floods, which claimed over 400 lives, as another recent example of extreme weather devastation attributed to global warming.
Weather services had issued alerts last week warning of a severe cold front approaching the region, with heavy rains and gale-force winds forecast. Despite these warnings, many in the largely rural and underdeveloped communities near the riverbanks were unprepared for the storm’s severity.
Emergency teams have been combing through destroyed homes and mud-choked riverbanks, often on foot, in what has become a grueling recovery mission. Authorities fear the death toll may continue to rise, as more people are believed to be missing.
One of the bodies recovered on Saturday was identified as a young boy, estimated to be around 13 or 14 years old, found far from the site of his home. Officials said many children are among the victims, though an exact number has yet to be released. Some of the deceased were discovered up to 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) away, swept far downstream by the powerful surge.
Criticism has mounted over the emergency response and the state of local infrastructure, with residents questioning the readiness of authorities in a province long known for its economic hardship and informal housing settlements.
As rescue operations stretch into their sixth day, emergency officials continue to call for public cooperation and patience, acknowledging that search efforts may take days to complete due to the extent of the damage and terrain.
