The port city of Durban and the surrounding area have been particularly affected. This is the heaviest rainfall in more than 60 years. In some places, nearly half of what normally falls in a year fell within 48 hours. There are now also problems in neighboring areas.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa visited the stricken region and met grieving families near a destroyed church. “We see such tragedies affecting other countries, such as Mozambique and Zimbabwe, but now we are the ones affected,” Ramaphosa said.
The floods led to collapsed bridges and broken roads, thousands of people lost their homes. Shipping traffic was disrupted in Durban, one of Africa’s most important ports.