On Thursday, the death toll from South Africa’s “historic” floods increased to 341 as helicopters spread out throughout Durban, the southeastern city, in an increasingly frantic search for survivors.
Rescuers raced to bring supplies across the city, where some inhabitants have been without power or water since Monday, as roads and bridges were swept away by storms this week.
The destruction of human life, infrastructure, and the province’s service delivery network is unprecedented,” stated KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala.
“In total, 40,723 persons have been impacted.” “Unfortunately, 341 people have died,” he said at a press conference.
Rescuers were flown in and out of a small airfield north of Durban. Air support was provided by a fleet of volunteers, corporate companies, and schools, in addition to the military and police.
However, Travis Trower, a director for the volunteer-run organization Rescue South Africa, reported that one day after the rains stopped, fewer survivors were discovered. He said his crews had only recovered remains after receiving 85 calls on Thursday.
To unlock rescue funds, President Cyril Ramaphosa declared the region a catastrophe. Authorities said they’ve set up 17 shelters to house more than 2,100 people who have been displaced.
In certain locations, sporadic protests against the sluggish restoration of services and a lack of assistance arose. The city authority of Durban pleaded for patience.
The government of KwaZulu-Natal has also issued a public appeal for assistance, asking for non-perishable food, bottled water, clothing, and blankets.
Many survivors, however, said that they were left to fend for themselves.
Residents in Amaoti, a township north of Durban, precariously balanced on the embankment of a collapsed road, attempting to gather clean water from a broken pipe beneath.
“We don’t have running water or electricity… People
The broken pipe rationed water to one bucket per family, with children as young as ten coming to obtain it.
Families washed their clothes in unclean water next to severed pipes protruding from the ground beside a riverside.
Weather experts estimate that certain parts of Durban received more than 45cm (18 inches) of rain in less than 48 hours, which is roughly half of the city’s typical rainfall of 101cm (40 inches).
The South African Weather Service has issued an Easter weekend warning for thunderstorms and localized floods in KwaZulu-Natal, as well as the Free State and Eastern Cape provinces.
The country is still recovering from a two-year COVID pandemic and fatal rioting that killed over 350 people last year.
