Audio By Carbonatix
South Africa declared a national disaster on Monday after heavy rains left seven of its nine provinces flooded, destroying roads and bridges and leaving farmers suffering losses.
The national weather service predicts that the heavy rains will persist, a statement from the presidency said.
The government has "declared a national state of disaster to enable an intensive, co-ordinated response to the impact of floods," the statement said, but gave no indication of casualties.
It said the heavy rains were brought by the La Niña global weather phenomenon, which occurs in the Pacific Ocean.
"These conditions demand the provision of temporary shelters, food and blankets to homeless families and individuals and the large-scale, costly rehabilitation of infrastructure," the statement added.
Latest Stories
-
Analysis: Why the cedi is depreciating
5 minutes -
Mercy Johnson faces backlash over $18.24 menstrual kit
1 hour -
EU plans to fine Google high triple-digit million euro sum, Handelsblatt reports
1 hour -
Senegal’s Faye names economist Lo as new prime minister
1 hour -
Landslide at Angola illegal gold mine kills 28
2 hours -
The Draft NITA Bill should be shredded
2 hours -
Eni and partners approve new development phase for Ivory Coast project
2 hours -
Govt signals tougher scrutiny before renewing Gold Fields’ Tarkwa lease, Reuters report
2 hours -
Africa must build strong systems to achieve sporting success — Herbert Mensah
2 hours -
Gunmen abduct 25 people in twin attacks in Nigeria’s Kwara state, police say
2 hours -
Ebola patients flee in attacks on Congo health facilities, hobbling response
2 hours -
What Is Wrong with Us: Why we keep uprooting young trees because they have not yet become forests
2 hours -
Senegal’s parliament speaker quits two days after prime minister sacked
2 hours -
WHO chief says fast-moving Ebola epidemic is outpacing response efforts
3 hours -
Rubio says Strait of Hormuz has to be open ‘one way or the other’
3 hours