MTHATHA, South Africa - Rescue operations entered a third day in South Africa's Eastern Cape province following devastating floods that have claimed at least 49 lives. Authorities anticipate the death toll to rise as search efforts persist for those still missing.
The floods, triggered by an extreme cold front bringing heavy rainfall, strong winds, and snow, struck the province early Tuesday. The hardest-hit area is Mthatha and its surrounding district. The disaster has caused extensive damage to infrastructure, including schools, hospitals, roads, and bridges.
Among the missing are four high school students swept away when their bus was caught in the floodwaters. President Cyril Ramaphosa has activated the National Disaster Management Center to support local authorities in the Eastern Cape. National officials are expected to assess the situation.