South Africa declares national disaster as floods kill dozens

South Africa on Sunday declared a national disaster after weeks of relentless rain and flooding led to the deaths of dozens of people, destroyed homes and forced thousands to flee, including many who crossed into neighboring Mozambique in search of safety. More than 200 people died Southern Africa, as a result, including 30 people in South Africa.

At least 17 deaths, including those of two children, were reported in Limpopo Province, while another 20 people were killed in flood-related incidents in Mpumalanga, the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Velenkosini Hlabisa said Sunday.

The floods destroyed more than 1,600 homes and 31 schools in Limpopo and affected over 1,000 homes in Mpumalanga. The deluge also forced the partial closure of Kruger National Park, one of Africa's largest wildlife reserves, prompting the evacuation of more than 600 visitors after rising waters cut off roads and campsites. 

The South African National Defense Force deployed helicopters to assist with rescue operations, including evacuating residents stranded in remote areas.

Across the border in Mozambique, the humanitarian situation is growing increasingly dire. Floodwaters swallowed entire neighborhoods, displacing hundreds of thousands and leaving some survivors stranded on rooftops and in trees as they awaited rescue. Official figures released Friday showed that more than 173,000 people were affected nationwide, though later estimates put the number above 200,000.

Mozambique's National Institute for Disaster Management and Risk Reduction said that 103 people have died due to what officials described as an unusually severe rainy season. 

South Africa also dispatched rescue teams to southern Mozambique on Sunday after floodwaters swept away a car carrying five members of a South African mayoral delegation near Chokwe, about 200 kilometers north of Maputo.

The flooding has extended well beyond the two countries. In Zimbabwe, authorities said at least 70 people have died and more than 1,000 homes have been destroyed since early January, with schools, roads and bridges washed away. Other countries in the region, including Malawi, Zambia and Madagascar, have also reported flooding and weather-related disruptions.

Meteorologists say the crisis has been driven by a slow-moving low-pressure system that has brought repeated bouts of torrential rain across Southern Africa. The Weather Channel warned that further heavy rainfall is forecast in the coming days, particularly in South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, heightening fears of additional flooding and loss of life.

Edited by CGTN Africa reporter Marion Gachuhi