The death toll from South Africa’s “exceptional” floods rose to 341 on Thursday as helicopters spread out across the southeastern city of Durban in an increasingly desperate hunt for survivors.
Due to floods, many roads and bridges were washed away by rainfall this week, rescuers battled to deliver supplies across the city, and some of the residents have been living without water and power since Monday.
According to Sihle Zikalala, premier of KwaZulu-Natal, that the level of destruction of human life, infrastructure and service delivery network in the region is unprecedented.
As per the estimation, nearly 40,723 people have been affected, and about 341 injuries have been recorded; he stated this via a news conference.
Helicopters carried rescuers in and out at a small airport north of Durban. The air support was pulled not only from the military and police, but at the same time from a caravan of volunteers, private contractors and schools.
But after that day, when rains finally subsidized, few survivors were also found as per the statement of Travis Trower, a volunteer-run organization Rescue South Africa director. From 85 calls on Thursday, he stated his teams had found only corpses.
It was unfortunate, but we do the beats we can for as many people as we can, he added.
However, the government has given no indication or hint about how many people are missing; Zikalala predicted the bill for damage would run into billions of rand.
As per President Cyril Ramaphosa, this region is in a state of disaster to unlock the relief funds; authorities stated that they established 17 shelters to give place to more than 2100 displaced people.
They also stated that we understand the frustration and anxiety of the residents, and we are trying to work quickly as much as we can. Our team are hard at work to resume services. However, it may take some time to fully restore all services because of the damage to access roads.
The government of the KwaZulu-Natal region has also put out a public call for aid, encouraging people in a bid to donate non-perishable food, bottled water, clothes and blankets.
As per the statement of any survivors that they left to protect themselves.
According to Thabani Mgoni, 38, “We do not have water, and there is no electricity, or even no scope of electricity people are coming here to get water.
