Search-and-rescue teams from the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) have launched an emergency operation after heavy downpours and rising water levels caused severe flooding in the South African province of Limpopo, officials said Friday.
The floods have killed 19 people and caused widespread destruction of homes, businesses and critical infrastructure, authorities reported. President Cyril Ramaphosa, who inspected flood damage in the area, described what he saw as “catastrophic.”
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The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued a Red Level 10 weather alert covering two provinces, warning of continued heavy rainfall and an elevated risk of additional flooding and flash-flood events.
Department of Defence officials said SANDF teams have been rescuing residents trapped on rooftops and other high points. “One individual was rescued from a tree along the flooded Olifants River, which poses a threat to nearby residents,” the department said in a statement.
Emergency workers and local authorities are focused on search-and-rescue operations, clearing debris and assessing collapsed roads and damaged utilities. Communications and power outages have complicated relief efforts, officials said, and many displaced families are seeking shelter with relatives or at temporary facilities set up by municipal authorities.
Sanitation and access to clean water are immediate concerns in inundated communities, while damaged bridges and washed-out roads are limiting movement of aid and emergency vehicles. Provincial officials have urged residents in low-lying and riverine areas to heed evacuation notices and avoid unnecessary travel.
The fast-moving storm system brought intense rain over several days, rapidly raising river levels across parts of Limpopo. The Olifants River — cited by the Department of Defence in its statement — and other waterways overflowed their banks, contributing to sudden inundation in residential areas.
National and provincial disaster management teams are coordinating with the SANDF, police and municipal emergency services to map hardest-hit areas and prioritize rescues. Authorities have not yet provided a full accounting of missing persons but warned that the casualty toll may change as crews reach more isolated communities.
SAWS has urged continued vigilance while the Red Level 10 alert remains in force, forecasting additional heavy showers that could prolong hazardous conditions and hamper recovery efforts.
Local officials appealed for donations of shelter materials, blankets and bottled water, and asked that offers of assistance be channeled through official municipal relief centers to ensure resources are distributed where they are most needed.
By News-room
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
