School children missing after minibus swept away in Eastern Cape floods
Provincial government spokesperson Khuselwa Rantjie said it was unclear how many children were on the bus, but three had been found alive.
A minibus carrying schoolchildren was swept away by floodwaters in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province on Tuesday, as extreme weather continues to batter parts of the country.
Provincial government spokesperson Khuselwa Rantjie said it was unclear how many children were on the bus, but three had been found alive.
She said rescue efforts were suspended due to darkness and would resume on Wednesday.
In a separate incident, the bodies of seven people who were carried away by floods were recovered in the province's OR Tambo district.
The severe weather, marked by heavy rains, snow, and strong winds, has caused widespread damage and claimed multiple lives across Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces.
"This is a devastating reminder of nature's force. We urge everyone to exercise extra caution in areas prone to flooding," Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane said in a statement.
In another tragedy linked to the storms, five people died in a minibus taxi accident near East London. According to Eastern Cape transport department spokesperson Unathi Binqose, the driver lost control while trying to avoid a fallen tree. Two people were injured in the crash.
State electricity company Eskom said nearly 500,000 homes were without power. Around 300,000 homes in 14 towns and villages in Eastern Cape had no electricity, while a further 196,000 homes in 24 areas in KwaZulu-Natal were also affected, Eskom spokesperson Daphne Mokwena said.
The storm has forced the closure of major roads in both provinces to prevent further casualties.
KwaZulu-Natal Transport Minister Siboniso Duma said heavy snow had trapped lorries on the roads, causing serious congestion. Graders have been deployed to clear snow that reached depths of over 30cm.
Meteorologist Lehlohonolo Thobela warned that strong winds and rough sea conditions were making it dangerous for ships to navigate.
Snowfall is common in South Africa during the winter months from June to August, and the country also experiences regular flooding. Scientists say climate change is contributing to heavier rainfall in the region.
Just weeks earlier, flash floods and overflowing rivers between 30 April and 2 May damaged around 4,500 homes and left 18 people injured.
