South Africa has declared a national disaster after a week of catastrophic floods left at least 92 people dead and over 4,000 displaced, marking one of the deadliest climate-related events in recent years.

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The Eastern Cape province, particularly around the city of Mthatha, was the most severely affected, as days of torrential rains, strong winds, and snowfall wreaked havoc across several regions. Entire communities were submerged, homes destroyed, and key infrastructure left in ruins.

Among the victims are at least 31 children. Local media have confirmed that two students who were on a school bus swept away by rising waters remain missing. Authorities are urging families to report missing persons to assist ongoing search and recovery efforts.

On Thursday, the Eastern Cape held a memorial service at one of the few surviving schools in Mthatha and declared the day of mourning across the province.

Many of the victims were from impoverished rural communities, where decades of underinvestment in infrastructure and disaster preparedness have amplified the impact of natural events. The province is now racing to restore water and electricity as large areas remain without basic services.

Meteorologists have attributed the disaster to an unusually intense cold front, while climate experts warn that such extreme weather events are becoming increasingly frequent due to global warming.

President Cyril Ramaphosa visited the affected region earlier this week, promising that national resources would be mobilized. The declaration of a national disaster allows the government to release emergency funds for immediate relief and long-term reconstruction in the affected provinces, including the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape, and Free State.

However, critics have raised concerns that ongoing delays, chronic underfunding, and a lack of local preparedness could hinder recovery efforts.

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