One of the schoolchildren’s minibus has been carried away by flooding in South Africa, a spokesman for the provincial government of the Eastern Cape told the BBC.
Khuselwa Rantjie said no one knew how many pupils were on the bus, but three of them had been found alive so far. The rescue efforts had been put on hold because night had descended and would resume on Wednesday, she added.
Casualties Mount Across Eastern Cape and OR Tambo District
In a separate incident, the bodies of seven people carried away by flood water have been found in the province’s OR Tambo district.
South Africa has been hit by heavy snow, rains and gale force winds that have claimed the lives of a further five people in a road accident, and have left nearly 500,000 homes without electricity.
The Eastern Cape – birthplace of anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela – has been hardest hit by the cold, with KwaZulu-Natal province also severely hit.
Road Accidents and Power Outages Escalate the Crisis
The poor weather has resulted in some major roads being closed in the two provinces to prevent more casualties.
Five individuals lost their lives when a minibus taxi capsized along the coastal town of East London, according to the driver who claimed to have lost control while attempting to swerve from a downed tree, Eastern Cape transport department spokesperson Unathi Binqose said.
Two individuals sustained injuries during the accident, he added. State power company Eskom reported that nearly 300,000 households had been affected by power cuts in 14 villages and towns in Eastern Cape.
Another 196,000 households in 24 locations in KwaZulu-Natal were also subject to power cuts, Eskom’s Daphne Mokwena reported to the BBC.
Snow, Strong Winds Add to Weather Woes in South Africa
KwaZulu-Natal Transport Minister Siboniso Duma added that snow had caused lorries to be stranded on the roads, resulting in massive congestion.
Grader vehicles have been deployed on worst-hit roads to remove snow before it accumulated more than 30cm (12in) in depth.
Weather forecaster Lehlohonolo Thobela also indicated that there was a possibility of strong winds and heavy seas, which would cause sailing for vessels to be challenging. Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal are both coastal.
Climate Patterns and Past Flood Impact in South Africa
Snowfall is common in South Africa during its winter season, between June and August, with temperatures plummeting below 0C (32F).
There is also frequent flooding and climate change is making it rain more in the region, according to scientists.
Flash flooding and overflowing rivers between 30 April and 2 May destroyed much of around 4,500 homes, and injured 18 people.
