Africa

South African military deployed to flood-ravaged province

Death toll rises to 443 with 63 people still missing

A man walks past the remains of a house at KwaNdengezi township outside Durban in South Africa. Photograph: Phill Magakoe / AFP/ Getty Images)

Mon Apr 18 2022 - 13:59

South Africa's armed forces have been deployed to help with relief efforts in the KwaZulu-Natal province, where more than 440 people died following torrential rains that triggered floods and mudslides last week.

The Army has been instructed to activate 10,000 troops for tasks including mop-up work and transporting humanitarian aid, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) said on Monday.

The SANDF would also provide medical support and helicopters to help with search and rescue and reconnaissance missions.

The floods have left thousands homeless, knocked out power and water services and disrupted operations at one of Africa's busiest ports, Durban.

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Rescuers searched for dozens of people still missing in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) province.

KwaZulu-Natal’s premier on Sunday said the death toll had risen to 443, with 63 people still unaccounted for.

The floods have left thousands homeless, knocked out power and water services and disrupted operations at one of Africa’s busiest ports, Durban. A provincial economic official estimated the overall infrastructure damage at more than 10 billion rand ($684.6 million).

In some of the worst-affected areas, residents said they were terrified by the thought of more rain, which was forecast to fall on Sunday. Some faced an agonising wait for news of missing loved ones.

“We haven’t lost hope. Although we are constantly worried as (the) days continue,” Sbongile Mjoka, a resident of Sunshine village in the eThekwini municipality whose 8-year-old nephew has been missing for days.

“We are traumatised by the sight of rain,” Mjoka (47) told Reuters, adding that her home had been badly damaged.

In a nearby semi-rural area, three members of the Sibiya family were killed when the walls of the room where they slept collapsed and 4-year-old Bongeka Sibiya is still missing.

“Everything is a harsh reminder of what we lost, and not being able to find (Bongeka) is devastating because we can’t grieve or heal. At this stage we are left feeling empty,” Lethiwe Sibiya (33) told Reuters.

South Africa president Cyril Ramaphosa's office said late on Saturday he had delayed a working visit to Saudi Arabia to focus on the disaster. Ramaphosa will meet cabinet ministers to assess the response to the crisis.

KZN premier Zikalala told a televised briefing that the floods were among the worst in his province’s recorded history.

“We need to summon our collective courage and turn this devastation into an opportunity to rebuild our province,” he said. “The people of KwaZulu-Natal will rise from this mayhem.” – Reuters

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