National Catastrophe Declared in South Africa Due to Floods and Extreme Weather Conditions
South Africa is reeling from the devastating effects of heavy rainfall and flooding that have wreaked havoc across the country, leading to a national disaster declaration. The catastrophic weather conditions have resulted in the loss of at least 30 lives in the northern region of the country, causing severe damage to thousands of properties and erasing roads and bridges from the map.
The national disaster declaration was enacted by the head of the National Disaster Management Center and subsequently announced by the government. This move allows for a more efficient and coordinated response to the disaster by the national government.
Provinces Heavily Impacted by the Disaster
The northern provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga are the most severely affected areas, accounting for the majority of the fatalities. However, it has been reported that three other provinces have also been negatively impacted by the harsh weather conditions.
South Africa and its neighboring countries, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, have been dealing with heavy rains for several weeks. The relentless rainfall has led to significant flooding in central and southern Mozambique as well as northern South Africa, resulting in more than 100 fatalities across the three countries since the deluge started late last year.
Significant Damage to Infrastructure and Wildlife Parks
The extreme rainfall and flooding in northern South Africa led to the temporary closure of the renowned Kruger National Park and the evacuation of hundreds of tourists and staff members from flooded campsites to safer locations within the park.
The premier of Limpopo province noted that the weather conditions have caused an estimated $240 million worth of damage to her province alone, with numerous homes and buildings completely washed away by the floods.
Previous years have also seen their share of tragedy due to flooding. For instance, last year, floods claimed the lives of more than 100 people in the Eastern Cape province in the south of the country, while over 400 lives were lost to flooding in the eastern KwaZulu-Natal province.
Search and Rescue Efforts Continue
As the country battles the aftermath of the floods, rescue teams are tirelessly searching for four missing individuals, including 5-year-old Siyanda Baloyi, who is feared to have been swept away when his home in Limpopo province was inundated last Thursday.
Additionally, it was reported that a government official from South Africa’s Ekurhuleni municipality, located east of Johannesburg, went missing after the vehicle he was traveling in was carried off by the floods in Mozambique. The other occupants of the vehicle are also unaccounted for.
Renowned Wildlife Park Set to Reopen
In a bit of positive news, the famed Kruger National Park is gearing up to welcome visitors again after its temporary closure due to severe flooding. The park, one of the largest game reserves globally, spans about 2,000 hectares (or 7.7 square miles) along the borders of Mozambique and Zimbabwe. The park was heavily damaged due to the torrential rains that swept across the Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces, claiming more than 20 lives.