Floods kill more than 100 across southern Africa as rains intensify

"In South Africa, officials said on Friday that flooding in the northern provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga had killed at least 30 people. Army helicopters have been deployed to rescue residents trapped on rooftops and in trees as swollen rivers swept through towns and villages. Security personnel were also evacuated from a border checkpoint with Zimbabwe after floodwaters surrounded the area."

"President Cyril Ramaphosa toured affected parts of Limpopo on Thursday, saying the province had received about 400mm (16 inches) of rain in less than a week. In one district, he said, there are 36 houses that have just been wiped away from the face of the earth. Limpopo Premier Phophi Ramathuba said more than 1,000 homes had been damaged across the province."

Torrential rains have battered South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe for weeks, overwhelming rivers and infrastructure and isolating entire communities. More than 100 people have been killed across Southern Africa, with mass evacuations and rescue operations underway and weather services issuing further alerts. In South Africa’s Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces at least 30 people died, army helicopters rescued residents from rooftops and trees, and security personnel were evacuated from a border checkpoint. Limpopo received about 400mm of rain in less than a week and dozens of houses were swept away. Zimbabwe reports at least 70 deaths and widespread infrastructure collapse. Mozambique has recorded 103 deaths, including flood, lightning and cholera-linked fatalities, with over 200,000 people affected and thousands of homes destroyed.

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