After heavy rains in the east of South Africa, floods and landslides have occurred. It should have been at least 51 dead, the police said. It will continue to search for missing persons.
More than a thousand people would have had to leave their homes and be lodged in shelters, tweeted President Cyril Ramaphosa. "We thank the churches and people who risked their own lives to save loved ones, neighbors and strangers," Ramaphosa wrote.
We thank the communities and individuals who risk their own lives to save loved ones, neighbors or strangers. We therefore thank the NGOs who are helping those in need by providing shelter, food and ablution facilities. I'll go to EC to assess the situation there as well. pic.twitter.com/JL4UXzSA4I
- Cyril Ramaphosa (@CyrilRamaphosa) April 24, 2019The head of state visited on Wednesday some of the affected places in the eastern province of KwaZulu-Natal.
In the heavy rainfall fell according to authorities in some places about 30 inches of rain per square meter. Accordingly, numerous streets and houses were flooded around the port city of Durban. The casualties were either crushed by masses of earth or drowned in the flood.
Rescue teams continue to search for victims. Soldiers were sent to support the rescue teams in the worst affected regions. The helpers fought against flooded roads and clogged sewers. In addition, electricity pylons toppled over.
It has been said by the provincial government that in recent years people have been trying to relocate the inhabitants of informal settlements from lower-lying areas. It will now continue to negotiate long-term solutions.