Rains wreak havoc in South Africa, Mozambique

At least 26 people are dead and many others missing following torrential rains in South Africa and Mozambique

February 22, 2000
Web posted at: 7:10 p.m. EST (0010 GMT)

In this story: More rains to follow Thousands homeless RELATED STORIES, SITES

From wire and staff reports

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa -- Rains that started Sunday and continued Tuesday left at least 26 people dead, scores missing and hundreds homeless in South Africa and neighboring Mozambique, South African police said.

Torrential rains across South Africa's Northern and Mpumalanga provinces left a trail of death and destruction, as rivers broke their banks and swept away bridges and roads.

Seventeen people have lost their lives in Northern Province, and another nine perished in Mpumalanga. A number of others are still missing, police spokesmen said.

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Two hundred visitors to the Kruger National Park were also cut off by rising waters, and hordes of the world-famous game reserve's animals headed for high ground.

Up to 17.5 inches of rain have fallen in the past four days in the park. Its Skukuza camp was cut off from the outside world for the first time in its 101-year history.

"There is no way to reach the north of the park from the south inside the park," said chief warden Antoinette van Wyk.

Floods continue to devastate parts of South Africa and neighboring Mozambique

More rains to follow

The South African Weather Bureau is forecasting more rain and heavy thundershowers Wednesday and Thursday, threatening further flooding with some rivers already at their highest levels in 50 years.

Officials in the Mpumalanga capital Nelspruit were checking reports that five children were swept away by a flooded river at the nearby town of Msogwaba, The Star newspaper reported.

Hundreds of Nelspruit residents were left homeless, clean water supplies disrupted and railway lines swamped, officials said.

South Africa's national defense force (SANDF) said it had rescued 100 people stranded by floodwaters.

"We're busy with a number of rescue operations. Close to a hundred people already in Mpumalanga," said Col. Hein Visser, supervising the province's rescue operations.

He said the SANDF had deployed three helicopters to rescue people stranded on roofs and isolated by flooded rivers.

Thousands homeless

Defense force spokesman Maj. Louis Kirsten said the SANDF was also ready for rescue operations across the border in Mozambique but was awaiting a formal request from the government there.

More than 100,000 people have been left homeless in the Mozambican capital Maputo and the neighboring industrial town of Matola, according to local media reports.

Maputo, a city of a million people, was threatened with isolation because of the rising Incomati River.

The Maputo water treatment station was not operating due to a lack of electricity. Numerous areas were left without clean water and electricity after floods swept away pumping stations and power lines.

Reuters contributed to this report.