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Flash floods that hit South Africa on Christmas Eve had left many dead and an undisclosed number of missing people, besides playing havoc with live stocks and homes. It has hit mostly the western parts of the country due to frequent spells of heavy rain
Flash floods that hit South Africa on Christmas Eve had left many dead and an undisclosed number of missing people, besides playing havoc with live stocks and homes. It has hit mostly the western parts of the country due to frequent spells of heavy rain.
On Christmas Eve, Ladysmith to the northeast of Lesotho experienced flash flooding after a sudden deluge during the evening. Amateur weather stations in the area suggested about 60mm of rain fell within an hour. Reports indicate that around 1400 homes were destroyed by the sudden floods and incessant rains. The death toll is expected to rise as several people are there in the missing list. Scouring for the missing people is continuing.
South Africa witnessed a train of natural calamities in 2023. In February -March 2023, a devastating flood was caused by heavy rainfall due to the La Niña weather phenomenon. At that time, the flash floods affected seven provinces, including the Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, and North West. The floods have caused casualties and damage to homes, businesses, basic infrastructure, roads, bridges, and affected crops and livestock.
At least twelve people were killed across the provinces during that time and several others were missing. Several people have been evacuated in Lekwa Local Municipality and residents in the area of Vaal, Vanderkloof, and Bloemhof dams along the Orange River (Northern Cape Province)
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On 23 March, heavy rainfall caused flash flooding in parts of the Eastern Cape. The worst affected municipalities were Ingquza Hill, King Sabata Dalindyebo, and Port St Johns. Local authorities reported at least three people died and one was reported missing. The flooding caused collapsed bridges, limiting movement in the flood-hit Port St Johns area. Economic losses caused by natural calamities are enormous.
