2022.04.15 23:07 (Akt. 04.15.2022 23:10)
Massive destruction in South Africa after the storm: more rain predicted ©APA/AFP
South Africa is in shock. At least 395 people have died this week in the worst weather disaster on record in Cape State. In the coastal province of KwaZulu-Natal, a desperate search was made for missing persons; the cleaning work has just begun. And there was bad news again: heavy rain was expected again over Easter weekend. The neighboring provinces of the Eastern and Northern Cape are also on high alert.
The government is preparing for more flooding and evacuations, said KwaZulu-Natal Prime Minister Sihle Zikalala. “In terms of the weekend, we can say that we are ready, but that depends on the magnitude of the floods that are coming,” warned Zikalala. On Friday, 41,000 people were directly affected by the floods and landslides. Thousands of people needed shelter and humanitarian assistance.
The numbers were considered provisional because many people were still missing. More and more bodies were found – among them countless children. New human tragedies were reported daily in the South African media: a grandmother was dragged from a bridge in a car with her three grandchildren; of a man whose ten family members drowned; of a mother who was caught in a landslide with her 10-month-old baby.
Several helicopters flew over the province on Friday to help police, military and rescue teams search for survivors and bodies. However, rescue operations and cleanup efforts were complicated by the severe devastation caused by the storm. Countless streets were destroyed, bridges toppled, houses collapsed. In many areas there has been no electricity or running water since Monday; some areas remained inaccessible. According to the regional government, nearly 250 schools have collapsed. The port in the regional capital, Durban, one of Africa’s largest cargo ports, has been closed until further notice. Drone footage showed dozens of huge shipping containers being swept from the port area onto the adjacent highway by floodwaters.
Some areas received more than 450 millimeters of rain in 48 hours this week, nearly half of Durban’s annual rainfall, according to the National Weather Service. President Cyril Ramaphosa declared the region a disaster area. According to the regional government, the damage is expected to amount to several million euros.
The Indian Ocean coastal province had really prepared itself for the traditional Easter rush of domestic and foreign tourists. After two years of low incomes due to the corona pandemic, people in KwaZulu-Natal – one of the most important vacation destinations in the country – were waiting for their first good season. But now Easter will be canceled for many people.