EC flooding 'catastrophe could never have been forseen' - Ramaphosa

MTHATHA - President Cyril Ramaphosa says he believes many of those killed in the Eastern Cape floods had no chance to escape.

The cold front that made landfall in the province earlier this week brought snow and heavy rains, leading to rising water levels in rivers that eventually burst their banks. 

It also left a trail of destruction and displaced hundreds of families. The official death toll after days of torrential rain and flash flooding now stands at 78.

Search and rescue crews have been deployed across affected areas since Tuesday, with dozens still missing.

Ramaphosa, joined by top government officials, who visited Mthatha, promised urgent assistance and provided updates to those impacted.

The mud-filled, nearly unpassable streets of De Coligny are a haunting testament to the devastation left by the rains.

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Residents here describe seeing friends, neighbours and family members being swept away by fast-flowing waters, nearly four metres high.

Now, with the rains finally gone, mop-up begins. 

Displaced families have returned to what’s left of their homes, picking through the debris for salvageable items.

Expressing condolences, Ramaphosa says the distance between the river and many of the destroyed homes underscores just how unpredictable and powerful the floods were.

“So this is a catastrophe that I do believe could never have been foreseen. Because, as I see it, as much as the people are slightly closer to the river, they are quite a distance from the river.”

With skies clear for the first time this week, recovery operations are finally gaining momentum.