Devastating floods kill at least 51 in S. Africa
Print Edition
Devastating floods in South Africa have killed 51 people and forced more than a thousand from their homes, according to an updated toll issued yesterday as President Cyril Ramaphosa flew to the deluged region.
Heavy rains have lashed the southeast of the country, tearing down homes and ravaging infrastructure in KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape provinces.
Speaking to the affected Amanzimtoti community in Durban, after returning from emergency African Union talks in Egypt on the crises in Libya and Sudan, Ramaphosa said: “There are more than 1,000 people who are now displaced.”
He raised concerns about Free State province north of KwaZulu-Natal, saying that continuing downpours there were causing “risky situations.”
The government will set aside emergency funding to help survivors rebuild their lives, Ramaphosa vowed.
Fifty-one people have been confirmed dead so far, although local media have given a toll as high as 54, rising from 33 on Tuesday.
Rescuers yesterday continued to comb debris, desperately looking for people feared trapped by landslides.
Emergency responders reported collapsed buildings and flooded roads, blocked sewer lines and toppled electricity pylons.
For safety reasons, schools and some businesses were shut in the affected areas. Troops have been dispatched to help rescue and evacuation efforts.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
