Meteorologists compared the level of precipitation that has fallen in recent days to that “normally associated with cyclones”.
Le Monde and AFP
At least 253 people have been killed in the floods that have affected these last days the east coast of South Africa, according to the last assessment broadcast on Wednesday, April 13 by the local authorities. According to the representative of the Kwazul-Natal Province Health Department, the bodies continue to flock in Morgues, while dozens of people are still missing.
Collective bridges, submerged routes … In the vicinity of Durban, the large port city became the epicenter of the disaster, landslides have left giant breasts. “In 48 hours, he fell more than 450 mm of water in some areas,” AFP said the Dipuo Tawana forecaster. Meteorologists compared the level of precipitation to that “normally associated with cyclones”.
“We see similar tragedies hitting Mozambique, Zimbabwe, but today we are affected,” lamented the South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who went into the morning of Wednesday. From bereaved families in Clermont, a poor suburbs of Durban. Local authorities claim that the state of natural disaster be declared.
“This is climate change that worsens”
The army has been mobilized to provide air support during evacuations. Thousands of houses have been destroyed and at least 140 touched schools, according to local authorities. The bad weather has resulted in the blocking of many roads. The activity at the port had to be suspended, containers were carried away by the waters. The authorities reported looting.
The strong precipitation have also resulted in electricity cuts and disrupted the water supply. The rail links have been suspended and the inhabitants have been called to avoid moving.
“We know that it is climate change that worsens, we went from extreme storms in 2017, to expected floods recorded in 2019 but clearly exceeded today in 2022”, warned Mary Galvin , Professor of Development Studies at the University of Johannesburg. In 2019, floods in the region and the nearby Cape Oriental province had already made 70 dead and devastated several coastal villages in mud flows.