Severe floods hit Eastern Cape, South Africa over the past couple of days, leaving at least 10 people dead and displacing more than 3 000 people.
Heavy rains affecting Eastern Cape since Monday, October 21, 2024, flooded entire neighborhoods, destroyed roads and bridges, and left at least 10 people dead, including 4 children, as of Wednesday, October 23.
Severe flooding was reported in parts of Gqeberha and Kariega, with Nelson Mandela Bay the worst affected. Thousands of families there were forced to evacuate.
Damage to infrastructure included the collapse of at least 30 houses and the destruction of 12 bridges, which has also affected school attendance in the region. Displaced residents have been temporarily accommodated in community halls and recently constructed houses.
The floods have further exacerbated damage to infrastructure caused by floods that hit the same region earlier this year.
Zolile Williams, Eastern Cape MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, blamed Nelson Mandela Bay municipality for a poor drainage system, describing the events that unfolded over the past 3 days as a ‘man-made disaster that could have been avoided.’
The humanitarian aid organization Gift of Givers is also saying the main reason for this is drainage that’s not being cleared. “The drainage just couldn’t cope with the amount of water that came down,” the organization’s representative for Southern Cape said.
Local residents are blaming the same reason for flooding in Gqeberha where they had to unblock the drainage system themselves.
Local government has activated disaster management teams in the worst affected Nelson Mandela Bay metro.
References:
1 EASTERN CAPE FLOOD VICTIMS PLEAD FOR ASSISTANCE – eNCA – October 23, 2024
2 E Cape floods worsen infrastructure damage, says Gift of the Givers – SABC – October 23, 2024
Featured image credit: SABC (stillshot)
Teo Blašković
watchers.news