Death toll rises to 100 as Eastern Cape flood devastation deepens

The Citizen

23-06-2025

The death toll in the devastating floods that struck the Eastern Cape has risen to 100, with fewer than 10 people still missing, as search and rescue operations continue across the province.
According to eNCA, five bodies were recovered in Mthatha today, where the community remains in shock.
The Witness reports that yesterday afternoon, two bodies were discovered by a resident, raising the death toll to 95 at the time.
Now, with 100 confirmed deaths, families are either mourning their loved ones or desperately awaiting news of the missing.
Ramaphosa blames climate change for 'catastrophic' floods
President Cyril Ramaphosa visited the disaster-stricken area on Friday, describing the floods as a 'catastrophic disaster' caused by climate change.
He met with survivors and grieving families in Mthatha, the city hardest hit by torrential rain and mudslides, where entire neighbourhoods were submerged and thousands left displaced.
'This is a catastrophic disaster which is caused by climate change,' Ramaphosa said, adding that flood waters had surged over four metres high in some areas.
'During winter, we expect cold and snow here in the Eastern Cape. Now we are confronting floods – this goes to show the severity of climate change.'
Ramaphosa also visited the site where a school bus was swept away, killing at least six children and three adults.
Four children remain unaccounted for. One woman, who lost her mother and two young nephews in the floods, broke down in tears while sharing her story with the president.
Rescue workers have been going door to door searching for survivors and retrieving bodies from rivers and collapsed homes.
In some cases, residents escaped by climbing onto rooftops and waiting hours for help.
The South African Red Cross Society said at least 3 500 households have been affected in the Mthatha area, with many people now sheltering in community halls.
Aid organisations said the number of people in need is expected to increase dramatically.
Ali Sablay of the disaster response organisation Gift of the Givers said many homes are still at risk of collapse.
Food is contaminated, infrastructure is damaged – people need to be evacuated.
At least 20 health facilities and 58 schools have been damaged by the flooding, according to local authorities.
Though the weather has since cleared in some areas, parts of the Eastern Cape remain unstable and at risk. The Green Climate Fund previously classified South Africa as highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, including more frequent and severe extreme weather events.
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Read original story on witness.co.za
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