Latest news with #floods
South China Morning Post
4 hours ago
- Climate
- South China Morning Post
Southwest China on alert for more deadly floods as downpours again threaten rain-soaked county
A county in southwestern China is bracing for another deluge just days after record floods killed at least six people. Advertisement Authorities in Rongjiang county in Guizhou province ordered the evacuation of half a dozen areas on Saturday as heavy rain was again forecast for the region. 'Exceptionally large floods' began sweeping through the county on Tuesday, setting new benchmarks for both rainfall and water levels, state broadcaster CCTV reported on Thursday without saying what those levels were. The water inundated low-lying areas and inflicted severe damage on some infrastructure, cutting transport and communication links. By 2.15pm on Tuesday, the hydrological station on one of the rivers near Rongjiang recorded a peak water level of 256.71 metres (842 feet), or 5.21 metres above the upper limit of the flood control engineering system's ability to ensure its own safe operation. 02:08 Truck driver trapped mid-air after bridge collapses amid floods in China Truck driver trapped mid-air after bridge collapses amid floods in China The county's biggest shopping centre was underwater but by early Wednesday morning, the rain had stopped and the floodwaters had begun to recede.
News24
2 days ago
- Business
- News24
Eastern Cape pledges financial accountability for R5bn flood fund
An amount of R5.18 billion is needed to repair flood-damaged infrastructure in the Eastern Cape. Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Zolile Williams has committed to implementing internal controls to ensure transparent and accountable fund management. The death toll of the devastating floods remain at 101 as search operations continue 16 days after the floods. The Eastern Cape government has pledged to ensure proper management of funds allocated for flood victims amid recovery and reconstruction costs amounting to billions of rand. During a media briefing in Mthatha on Thursday, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Zolile Williams said the provincial government would need R5.18 billion to repair infrastructure damaged by the floods. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana told the Portfolio Committee of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs on Tuesday that R5 billion was made available to assist the province. But Godongwana warned against the misuse of the funds. Said Williams: 'We have heard the call and/or concern from both ordinary citizens through social media platforms and commentators and journalists through mainstream media about our ability or a perceived lack of ability to ensure prudent financial management during this period.' I wish to assure the people of our province and South Africa that we are committed to ensuring financial accountability. It is our responsibility as the province's leadership collective, both at provincial and local government, to ensure transparency and accuracy in financial records and reporting. He added that as the province responded to the disaster, it would adhere to regulations, implement robust internal controls, and manage risks effectively. 'We will further ensure that we use the principles of the risk-adjusted strategy [which regulates financial management and procurement] to effectively and efficiently manage the expenditure of funds allocated to us,' Williams said. He added the death toll was still at 101 on Thursday afternoon. Search operations continue for missing people 16 days after the deadly floods. 'Some families have commenced with burials since last weekend. AVBOB pledged to store bodies and provide burial services and transportation of human remains,' said Williams. He added from Thursday, 31 victims would be buried across the province, including two pupils from Jumba Senior Secondary School in Ngqeleni, while Nomonde Ntlabathi, who was an enrolled nursing assistant at Bedford Orthopaedic Hospital in Mthatha, and her three grandchildren would be buried in Centane on Saturday. 'Additionally, through the [provincial] Department of Education and Sassa [the SA Social Security Agency], the government provided financial assistance to the families to help them prepare for the funerals. We remain grateful to our social partners who provided groceries to the families,' said Williams.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Climate
- The Independent
Death toll from this month's flooding in South Africa rises to over 100
The death toll from severe floods that inundated parts of South Africa's rural Eastern Cape province two weeks ago has risen to 101, with a 12-month-old baby the youngest fatality, authorities said Thursday. Two children are still missing. Heavy rain on June 9 and 10 caused by a cold front resulted in floods that swept away victims and their houses, trapped others in their homes, damaged roads and other infrastructure and cut electricity supplies. Zolile Williams, an Eastern Cape provincial government official, provided the updated death toll at a press briefing Thursday and said search operations continued for the two missing children. Williams said 94 of the 101 victims had been identified and their bodies had been handed over to their families. The victims included 38 children. More than 4,000 people have been left homeless across the Eastern Cape province. South Africa last week declared a state of national disaster, allowing the government to release funding for relief services. Williams said that an estimated $288 million would be needed to replace damaged infrastructure and the province, one of the poorest in South Africa, needed help from the national government. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa visited the worst affected sites two weeks ago and blamed the heavy rains and catastrophic floods on climate change. Another cold front hit South Africa's Western Cape province this week, bringing days of rain and causing flooding in and around the city of Cape Town. South Africa is vulnerable to strong weather fronts that blow in from the Indian and Southern Oceans. In 2022, more than 400 people died in flooding caused by prolonged heavy rains in the east coast city of Durban and surrounding areas. ___
Washington Post
2 days ago
- Climate
- Washington Post
Death toll from this month's flooding in South Africa rises to over 100
JOHANNESBURG — The death toll from severe floods that inundated parts of South Africa's rural Eastern Cape province two weeks ago has risen to 101, with a 12-month-old baby the youngest fatality, authorities said Thursday. Two children are still missing. Heavy rain on June 9 and 10 caused by a cold front resulted in floods that swept away victims and their houses, trapped others in their homes, damaged roads and other infrastructure and cut electricity supplies.
Al Arabiya
2 days ago
- Climate
- Al Arabiya
Death toll from this month's flooding in South Africa rises to over 100
The death toll from severe floods that inundated parts of South Africa's rural Eastern Cape province two weeks ago has risen to 101, with a 12-month-old baby the youngest fatality, authorities said Thursday. Two children are still missing. Heavy rain on June 9 and 10 caused by a cold front resulted in floods that swept away victims and their houses, trapped others in their homes, damaged roads and other infrastructure, and cut electricity supplies. Zolile Williams, an Eastern Cape provincial government official, provided the updated death toll at a press briefing Thursday and said search operations continued for the two missing children. Williams said 94 of the 101 victims had been identified and their bodies had been handed over to their families. The victims included 38 children. More than 4,000 people have been left homeless across the Eastern Cape province. South Africa last week declared a state of national disaster, allowing the government to release funding for relief services. Williams said that an estimated 288 million rand would be needed to replace damaged infrastructure and the province–one of the poorest in South Africa–needed help from the national government. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa visited the worst affected sites two weeks ago and blamed the heavy rains and catastrophic floods on climate change. Another cold front hit South Africa's Western Cape province this week, bringing days of rain and causing flooding in and around the city of Cape Town. South Africa is vulnerable to strong weather fronts that blow in from the Indian and Southern Oceans. In 2022, more than 400 people died in flooding caused by prolonged heavy rains in the east coast city of Durban and surrounding areas.
