The death toll from South Africa’s flash floods that swept away homes and destroyed several infrastructures in the southern KwaZulu-Natal province in April has risen to 461 lives, provincial premier Sihle Zikalala said on Sunday.
The figure has increased from 435 in May to the current figure, with some 87 people still missing due to the tragedy in the province, Zikalala said.
The trail of destruction in KwaZulu-Natal has left over US$1.7 billion in damage to property after the floods battered roads, water, and sanitation and power supply systems, the premier said.
“A total of 27,069 houses were affected, with 8,584 houses totally destroyed, and leaving 40,000 homeless,” Zikalala said.
He added that areas like Tongaat township remained without adequate drinking water.
But the government was making efforts to restore what was lost in these areas as it advanced some US$67 million to kickstart the work, he said.
NM/jn/APA