A rescue operation is underway in South Africa's Eastern Cape province after a bus carrying schoolchildren was carried away by floodwaters. Three children have been rescued, while the search for others continues amid challenging weather conditions.
Rescuers Search for Missing Schoolchildren After Devastating Floods in Eastern Cape
Rescuers Search for Missing Schoolchildren After Devastating Floods in Eastern Cape
The search continues for missing schoolchildren in South Africa's Eastern Cape following heavy rains that caused a bus to be swept away.
The frantic search for schoolchildren swept away in devastating floods in South Africa's Eastern Cape has resumed after a brief suspension due to severe weather. The incident occurred in Mthatha, where a bus transporting children to school was caught in rising floods on Tuesday morning. Rescuers have reported saving three students who were found clinging to trees, but the total number of children on board is still unclear. The bus itself has been located abandoned on a riverbank, escalating concerns about the fate of the others.
Private TV station Newzroom Afrika has reported that preliminary findings suggest that the bodies of 10 children and their driver have been discovered downstream, although this information has yet to be officially confirmed. Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane visited the area to oversee rescue efforts, expressing his gratitude for the response from emergency services in what he called a "difficult" situation.
The Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces have been severely impacted by adverse weather, which has caused widespread disruption and left nearly 500,000 homes without electricity. Additionally, the death toll from the ongoing weather calamity has risen to 14, with nine fatalities attributed to flooding and five more resulting from a road accident.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has offered his condolences to the grieving families and urged citizens to exercise caution as severe winter conditions persist. As authorities work to restore power and ensure public safety, some major roads have been closed to prevent further accidents and protect residents. The tragedy unfolds in a region deeply connected to South Africa's historical context, being the birthplace of renowned anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela.
