Weather service warns of continued heavy rain across Mpumalanga and Limpopo

The South African Weather Service says more rain is expected in the lower-lying parts of Mpumalanga over the next two days.

The province has experienced heavy flooding due to persistent rainfall.

Authorities have confirmed that the death toll has risen to 19 following the discovery of the body of a person who had been missing for more than a month.

Access for emergency services remains difficult, as roads and bridges have been washed away, and some parts of the province are without power.

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Weather Service forecaster Lehlohonolo Thobela said the amount of rain that has fallen in parts of Mpumalanga and Limpopo is usually what these areas record over a six-month period.

Areas expected to be affected include Mbombela, uMkomaas, Bushbuckridge, Giyani and the Phalaborwa municipalities.

Thobela added that the rainfall is highly unusual, especially as no tropical cyclone made landfall.

“It is quite an abnormal occurrence, especially because there was no tropical cyclone that made landfall. Instead, a weather system developed over the area and resulted in heavy rainfall. The area has received close to half of its annual rainfall, particularly over the past three days.”