306 Dead in KwaZulu-Natal Floods

As of Wednesday, 13 April, more than 300 people have died as a result of mass flooding in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province.

Due to record-high rainfalls that have occurred in the past few days, flooding has been wreaking havoc in Durban and many of its surrounding areas.

This has caused extensive damage to infrastructure such as roads, bridges, schools, and scores of residential homes, resulting in both the displacement and deaths of hundreds of people.

According to Nonala Ndlovu, the spokesperson for the provincial disaster management department, the death toll had risen to 306.

As rescue operations for missing persons continue – including the search for a 10-year-old girl who was swept away on a flooded bridge – the death toll is expected to rise.

After visiting flood-hit parts of the province on Wednesday, President Cyril Ramaphosa extended his sympathies to local community members as well as promised to provide them with assistance where he can.

“Even though your hearts are in pain, we’re here for you,” he said. “This disaster is part of climate change. We no longer can postpone what we need to do … to deal with climate change. It is here, and our disaster management capability needs to be at a higher level.”

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