The local authorities reported Monday that at least 90 people died in the severe storms that affected South Africa’s Eastern Cape state last week as rescue teams searched for more patients. The region’s most impoverished territory was ravaged by heavy winds and rains at the start of the year, leaving thousands of people homeless. President Cyril Ramaphosa claimed on Friday that climate change was to blame for the” catastrophic disaster” and that the flood waters had reportedly reached more than four meters ( 13 feet ) high. The Eastern Cape authorities said in a statement that” the most recent report has indicated an increase in the number of casualties from 88 to 90.” According to the report, 30 of the subjects were kids. At least six children were on a class vehicle that was swept away in the storm, among them. After clinging to trees, three kids were saved. According to the local state,” about 2, 686 people were left poor” and were residing in temporary homes. The city of Mthatha, which is located about 800 kilometers ( 500 miles ) south of Johannesburg, was the area where the floods and subsequent landslides were most severe. The town is close to Qunu, the origin of Nelson Mandela, the later anti-apartheid warrior and former leader, in the community. After being fully submerged in waters, thousands of homes, roads, schools, and medical services were left covered in mud. When the waters rushed into their homes at evening, some people managed to escape to their roofs, but people found themselves trapped inside. Although South Africa’s winter months are known for snow and heavy rainfall, Ramaphosa said last week that southern areas of the nation were impacted by “unprecedented” weather situations. The state is very susceptible to the effects of climate change and variation, which raise the frequency and severity of extreme conditions, according to the Green Climate Fund.
