Death toll in Eastern Cape floods climbs to 57
Officials say the death toll in the Eastern Cape floods has climbed to 57.
Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister, Velenkosini Hlabisa, confirmed the figures during a visit to Mthatha on Thursday morning.
"Fifty-seven is not just a figure. These are human bodies, some of whom were breadwinners and some of whom were the only children in their families."
Hlabisa said the death toll is a combination of the tally reported from three different areas where heavy rains and gale-force winds left a trail of destruction.
Over 2,000 people have been displaced, while the search for missing people continues.
READ: National govt officials visit flood-hit Eastern Cape
Hlabisa and Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube are leading government visits to the affected areas to see the impact for themselves.
"And by the time we meet at lunchtime, we will also be [surveying] the appropriate areas, as so many people are from this municipality, and so many are from that municipality. The highly affected area is the one where we are, with a figure of about 51 deceased people of this community."
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