South Africa on Sunday declared a national disaster following torrential rains and flooding that have killed at least 30 people in the country’s northern regions and caused widespread damage to homes, roads, and bridges.
The declaration, made by the head of the National Disaster Management Centre, enables the national government to coordinate relief and response efforts. The hardest-hit areas are the northern provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga, though at least three other provinces have also been affected, the Ministry of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs said.
Heavy rains have persisted across South Africa and neighboring Mozambique and Zimbabwe for weeks, resulting in severe flooding. Since late last year, more than 100 people have died across the three countries due to the extreme weather.
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In northern South Africa, the floods forced the closure of Kruger National Park and the evacuation of hundreds of tourists and staff from inundated camps. The Limpopo provincial premier estimated damages in the province at around $240 million, with numerous homes and buildings washed away.
South Africa has faced repeated flooding in recent years, including more than 100 deaths in the Eastern Cape last year and over 400 fatalities in KwaZulu-Natal in 2022.