Thousands displaced as Eastern Cape floods worsen as rain continues in South Africa - at least 10 killed across the country (UPDATE)

Sandy McCowen
algoafm.co.za
Thu, 07 May 2026 18:03 UTC

© GRDM

With the Keurbooms River flowing strongly, approximately 70 people have become stranded in the area.

Heavy rains, flooding, rough seas and snow have caused widespread disruption across the Eastern Cape and Garden Route, with thousands of residents evacuated, roads closed and emergency shelters overwhelmed as disaster teams race to respond to the severe weather crisis.

More than 2,000 flood victims are currently being accommodated in 25 emergency shelters across Nelson Mandela Bay, where overcrowded facilities are housing families, elderly residents, women and children displaced by persistent flooding.

Humanitarian organisations and disaster management teams have issued urgent appeals for donations including long-life milk, cereal, drinking water, nappies, baby wipes, toiletries, blankets and mattresses as relief operations intensify.

"More than 2,000 flood victims are currently being accommodated in 25 emergency shelters across the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro," Gift of the Givers spokesperson Ali Sablay said.

"Gift of the Givers drop-off centres have been set up at the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber, Boardwalk Mall and the Engen garage next to the Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport."

The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality confirmed that more than 1,500 residents had already been evacuated from flood-affected communities by Wednesday evening, with shelters established at Missionvale Primary School, Kleinskool, Lilian Ngoyi Community Hall in KwaZakhele, Xaba Hall in Langa, Kabah Living Waters Church in Kariega, Airport Valley in Walmer, Walmer Town Hall and Qunu community facilities.

Municipal disaster teams, together with Gift of the Givers, SASSA, SAPS, EMS and provincial disaster management authorities, remain deployed across the Metro providing food, healthcare support, blankets and emergency humanitarian assistance.

NSRI rescue operation in North End

NSRI Gqeberha deputy station commander Simon Williams said rescue teams responded in the early hours of Wednesday morning after a security guard was trapped in a flooded building along the shoreline below the M4 Freeway at the North End Lighthouse.

"At 02h30, Wednesday, 6 May, NSRI Gqeberha duty crew were activated following a request for assistance from the TNPA security office reporting a security guard trapped in a building on the shoreline below the M4 Freeway at the North End Lighthouse," Williams said.

NSRI rescue swimmers and Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Fire and Rescue Services responded, navigating floodwaters along the shoreline roadway for approximately 1.5 kilometres to reach the site.

The building, already flooded to waist height and surrounded by a barbed-wire fence, could initially not be accessed, while the security guard remained trapped inside holding the gate keys.

The man was instructed to remain in place until rescue teams could reach him safely.

Rescue swimmers removed sections of barbed wire to access the property and reached the 29-year-old man inside the flooded structure.

"The man, in good spirits, was kitted into personal protective gear and a life-jacket, and in the care of NSRI rescue swimmers he was waded to the fence gate," Williams said.

Kariega bridge flooding raises safety concerns

Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality spokesperson Sithembiso Soyaya confirmed that emergency teams are urgently responding to flooding at the Niven Bridge, also known as the Cuyler Bridge, in Kariega following heavy rainfall in the area.

Motorists and residents have been urged to avoid crossing the bridge as water levels continue rising and overflowing across the roadway.

Emergency and disaster response teams are monitoring the situation closely to ensure public safety, while residents have been encouraged to use alternative routes where possible and report emergencies to municipal authorities.

Authorities warned that the danger is far from over as forecasts continue to indicate disruptive rainfall, rising water levels and possible localised flooding in vulnerable communities.

Comment: Update May 12

AP reports:

South Africa declares natural disaster as flooding kills at least 10

At least 10 people are dead with many homes destroyed in flooding caused by torrential rains across six provinces in South Africa that have hit informal settlements especially hard.

South African authorities have declared a natural disaster for the flooding, thunderstorms, high winds and even snowfall that have affected parts of the Western Cape, North West, Free State, Eastern Cape, Northern Cape and Mpumalanga provinces since May 4.

The declaration enables the government to use emergency funds and other resources to respond.

Cape Town was badly affected, and the Western Cape provincial government has ordered the temporary closure of schools and parts of the city's Table Mountain tourist attraction.

Local officials there on Tuesday said at least 26 informal settlements around the city had been affected by flooding, with over 10,000 structures damaged.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday expressed "deep sadness" over the loss of at least 10 lives due to the severe weather as winter in the Southern Hemisphere begins.

He said authorities are "making the best use of science to pre-empt some of these events and to respond to the aftermath."

Experts have said severe floods across Southern Africa are intensifying, driven by extreme weather patterns. Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe experienced unusually heavy rains in recent months, with the region's worst flooding in years.

In January, South Africa declared a national disaster over torrential rains and floods that killed at least 30 people in the north, damaged thousands of homes and washed away roads and bridges.