Killing toll after heavy floods South Africa rises to at least 86

The number of fatalities of heavy floods in the South African province of Eastern Cape of this week has risen to at least 86 on Saturday. This is reported by the AFP news agency on the basis of the local police. 49 dead were reported on Wednesday, but bodies were found again on Saturday.

In South Africa there was a torrent, snow and strong wind last week. Eastern Cape, one of the poorest regions in the country, was particularly struck and hundreds of people were evacuated there. According to AFP, houses, roads, schools and health centers were covered with mud after they were completely submerged.

According to the news agency, rescue workers went from door to door in search of bodies and survivors after people got stuck in their houses. Some waited for help for help for hours.

President Cyril Ramaphosa visited the province on Friday and blames the « catastrophic disaster » of climate change. Snow and heavy rainfall are common in South Africa in the winter (where it is winter when it is summer in the Netherlands), but the president called these weather extremes « unprecedented. » Climate change increases the chance of flooding and larger weather extremes in the country.

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