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S.Africa president heads to floods hotspot as 51 die
JOHANNESBURG, April 24, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – At least 51 people have been
killed in flooding in South Africa, a local official said Wednesday, as
President Cyril Ramaphosa flew into the deluged eastern region of the
country.
Heavy rains have lashed South Africa in recent days, with the southern and
eastern parts of the country badly hit since last weekend.
“Our hearts go out particularly to families and communities who have been
directly affected by death, injury and the loss of property,” Ramaphosa said
in a statement after returning from crisis talks in Egypt on the situations
in Libya and Sudan.
“This situation calls on all of us to pull together as a country to reach
out to affected communities.”
The death toll jumped from 33 on Tuesday, as rescuers continued to comb
debris for those who might be trapped underneath landslides.
In addition to collapsed buildings and flooded roads, sewer lines were
blocked and electricity pylons had toppled over.
South African military personnel have been dispatched to help rescue and
evacuation efforts.
The South African Weather Services warned that more heavy rain and gale
force winds were expected, which could threaten low-lying bridges and roads.
“Unfortunately the numbers have risen to 51. In previous years we have
tried to remove people from low-lying areas,” a regional minister, Nomusa
Dube-Ncube, told SA FM radio.
“We will continue with negotiations in some of the areas where we believe
the long-term solution is people moving out.”
BSS/AFP/MSY/1307 hrs