At least eight bodies have been recovered after a tragic incident in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province, where a school bus was swept away by floodwaters near Mthatha, authorities confirmed on Wednesday.
The region has been hit by intense rainfall and snowfall since the weekend, driven by a powerful winter cold front that has disrupted transportation and power infrastructure.
“It is indeed a tragic event, and search efforts are still ongoing,” said Xolile Nqatha, Eastern Cape’s community safety official, during an interview with Newzroom Afrika.
Three children were rescued from the bus, according to a statement from President Cyril Ramaphosa’s office. The president extended his heartfelt condolences to the grieving families, local communities, and the residents of Eastern Cape.
South Africa has experienced increasingly frequent and severe flooding in recent years, largely attributed to the effects of climate change. One of the deadliest incidents occurred in April 2022, when a massive storm on the East Coast claimed approximately 400 lives and displaced thousands.
