CAPE TOWN, June 4 (Xinhua) -- At least ten people have lost their lives and many others have been displaced due to the devastating floods that have affected the Eastern Cape province in South Africa, local authorities confirmed Tuesday.
"To date, eight people have been reported to have drowned in the recent floods in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro since Sunday," said a statement issued Tuesday by the office of the Eastern Cape provincial police commissioner.
After seven deaths had been confirmed Monday, "the body of the eighth victim, a female that went missing on Sunday in the Rocklands area was found at about 13:00 this afternoon, 4 June, by the SAPS (South African Police Service) K9 Search and Rescue and Diving Units in the Brak River in Rocklands. The next of kin is yet to be informed," said the police.
"Inquest dockets are opened in all of the above drownings. Searches for people who have not yet been accounted for, are continuing by the SAPS K9 search and rescue and diving units," it added.
Meanwhile, the Buffalo City Metro Municipality in Eastern Cape has confirmed two deaths due to the floods.
This takes to ten the total number of people who have died in the province as a result of the recent floods that hit it at the weekend.
Officials from the Eastern Cape Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs are still assessing the extent of damage that the floods have caused in the province, while more than 2,000 families have reportedly been displaced across affected areas.
Eastern Cape Premier Lubabalo Mabuyane on Tuesday visited the flood-stricken areas in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro to assess damages and monitor government response.
At the same time, the South African Weather Service issued a warning for disruptive rain that could result in the flooding of roads and informal settlements across the Western Cape province Tuesday.
Damaging winds have also been forecast over parts of the province.
