Mthatha, Eastern Cape – The death toll from the devastating floods in the Eastern Cape has climbed to at least 78, with disaster management teams continuing search operations amid fears the number could rise further.
The region has been left reeling after extreme weather triggered rapid floodwaters, sweeping away homes and causing widespread destruction. As conditions begin to clear, grieving families now face the heartbreaking task of identifying recovered bodies.
President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to visit the affected areas today, accompanied by government ministers, to assess the damage and offer support to communities in crisis.
Postmortems Completed Amid Confusion
Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma addressed reports of delays in postmortem examinations, confirming that all 49 bodies recovered as of yesterday had been processed by midday today.
“This morning, there were media reports suggesting issues with postmortems. However, after consulting Health Minister Dr. Joe Phaahla, I can confirm that the process has been completed for those victims,” Dlamini-Zuma stated.
Local funeral parlors have been overwhelmed as the number of fatalities continues to grow, with emergency teams still searching for missing persons.
Authorities warn that the death toll may increase as recovery efforts persist. Relief operations are underway to assist displaced residents, many of whom have lost everything in the disaster.
