South Africa’s Eastern Cape province is reeling from one of its worst natural disasters in recent memory after powerful floods swept across several towns and villages, killing at least 49 people and displacing hundreds more. Officials say the death toll is expected to rise as search and rescue teams continue to comb devastated areas for survivors and the missing.
The disaster, triggered by relentless rains, fierce winds, and rare snowfall in some highland regions, struck in the early hours of Tuesday, June 10, catching many residents off guard. Among the most affected was the town of Mthatha, where infrastructure collapsed under the pressure of the water and entire communities were submerged.
Heartbreak struck especially hard in one incident involving schoolchildren: six high school students lost their lives after the bus they were traveling in was swept away by floodwaters near a river crossing. Authorities recovered the bus on Wednesday, but it was found empty. Three students were later discovered clinging to nearby trees and rescued, while four others are still unaccounted for. The adult driver and another passenger were confirmed among the fatalities.
“It’s a tragedy beyond words,” said Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane, who visited Mthatha and other hard-hit areas on Wednesday. “These were young lives full of promise. We mourn with their families, and our hearts go out to every community shattered by this disaster.”
Premier Mabuyane also acknowledged the scale of the destruction. “We are working closely with national agencies to assess the damage, coordinate emergency relief, and ensure all affected individuals receive the support they need. Our province is in mourning, but we must remain resilient.”
According to the Eastern Cape Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), more than 300 families have been displaced across the region, with many seeking refuge in temporary shelters set up in community halls, churches, and schools. Relief organizations and local NGOs are on the ground distributing food parcels, blankets, and basic supplies to those affected.
The provincial education department reported that at least 58 schools suffered damage during the flooding, with several rendered completely unusable. Meanwhile, 20 hospitals and health facilities sustained varying levels of water and storm damage, placing further strain on the region’s already limited health services.
“We are prioritizing the restoration of critical infrastructure,” said MEC for Education Fundile Gade. “Our learners and educators are traumatized. We’re making arrangements to relocate some students and ensure academic activities resume in a safe environment as soon as possible.”
In Mthatha and surrounding districts, entire roads have been washed away. Bridges collapsed under the weight of rising rivers. In other areas, large sinkholes have formed where streets once stood. The floodwaters carried with them homes, vehicles, livestock, and possessions, leaving nothing but scattered debris and shattered dreams in their wake.
Local officials noted that many of the affected households were located in informal settlements—densely populated areas with limited infrastructure and drainage, making them particularly vulnerable to extreme weather events.
“This disaster lays bare the inequality and housing crisis in our province,” said Mkhuseli Yekiso, a community organizer in the Chris Hani District Municipality. “We need long-term solutions, not just short-term relief. Our people are dying every time the rain comes.”
As climate change intensifies, South Africa has witnessed a growing frequency of extreme weather events. The Eastern Cape is no stranger to seasonal rainfall, but meteorologists have called this week’s deluge “unprecedented in intensity.” The South African Weather Service issued several warnings in the days leading up to the flooding, but the volume of rainfall exceeded predictions.
In an official statement, President Cyril Ramaphosa extended his condolences to the families of the victims and praised the emergency workers on the ground. “We are heartbroken by the loss of life in the Eastern Cape. I commend the efforts of our first responders who are working tirelessly under difficult conditions to search for survivors, treat the injured, and offer shelter to the displaced.”
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has been placed on standby to assist with logistics, while helicopters and drones have been deployed to scan areas that are still inaccessible by road due to mudslides and broken infrastructure.
Thursday’s operations were expected to focus heavily on the recovery of missing persons, particularly the four students who have yet to be located. Police divers and canine units were deployed to riverbanks and flood plains in and around Mthatha and Qumbu.
“We will not rest until every missing person is found,” said Eastern Cape Disaster Management Centre spokesperson Vuyisile Jaca. “Our teams are working around the clock, and we continue to urge residents to avoid traveling unless absolutely necessary.”
Several community members have turned to social media to post photos of missing loved ones and plead for updates from authorities. Hashtags like #EasternCapeFloods and #PrayForMthatha have begun trending across platforms, drawing attention to the scale of the catastrophe and rallying national and international support.
Meanwhile, humanitarian organizations such as Gift of the Givers and the South African Red Cross have launched emergency response campaigns, appealing for donations to support the relief effort.
“This is a humanitarian crisis,” said Gift of the Givers founder Dr. Imtiaz Sooliman. “We are calling on all South Africans and international partners to contribute in whatever way they can. The people of the Eastern Cape need us now.”
As rain clouds begin to lift over the region, residents are left counting the cost of a flood that has taken lives, erased homes, and left entire communities in mourning. Yet amid the tragedy, there remains a sense of solidarity and hope that through compassion, aid, and resilience, Eastern Cape will begin its long road to recovery.
