South AfricaZimbabweFloodAbhay Rayandeah

  

Public life disrupted by devastating floods in Africa/ Photo: AFP

At least 100 people have been killed in South Africa, as well as neighboring Mozambique and Zimbabwe, in the wake of torrential rains and severe flooding. Residents in flood-hit areas have taken shelter on rooftops and in trees. The weather department has warned that the situation could worsen.

There have been reports of heavy rains in these countries for weeks, causing rivers to overflow, destroying infrastructure, and isolating many towns.

South African officials say at least 30 people have died in floods in the northern provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga. Army helicopters have been deployed to rescue residents who have taken shelter on roofs and in trees in flooded areas. Security personnel have also been evacuated from a checkpoint near the border with Zimbabwe.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said in a statement after visiting affected areas in Limpopo that the province had received nearly 400 millimeters of rain in less than a week. In one district, 36 homes were completely destroyed. More than 1,000 homes were damaged across the province.

The disaster management agency in neighboring Zimbabwe said at least 70 people have died in floods since the beginning of this year. More than 1,000 homes have been destroyed and many schools, roads and bridges have collapsed.

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Mozambique has been hit hardest. The country's disaster management authority said 103 people have died since the unusually rainy season began late last year, including from flooding, lightning strikes, infrastructure collapses and cholera spread by contaminated water.

The World Food Programme (WFP) said more than 200,000 people across the country have been affected by the disaster. Thousands of homes have been damaged and preparations are underway to evacuate many people to safer places.

Related topics:

• South Africa
• Zimbabwe
• Flood
• Heavy rain
• Death