Death toll from South Africa floods rises to 341

The death toll from South Africa’s “unprecedented” floods climbed to 341 as helicopters fanned out across the southeastern city of Durban in an increasingly desperate search for survivors.

According to details, rescuers battled to deliver supplies across the city where some residents have been without power or water since Monday, with roads and bridges washed away by rainfall. The government has given no indication of how many people are missing.  

Reportedly, a total 40,723 people have been affected.  

There was a sense of despair amid the stench of sewage, growing stronger as the rains which wrought so much devastation stopped and the tropical heat returned. 

On the other hand, sporadic protests erupted in some areas over slow restoration of services and a lack of relief.

However, the government appealed for patience and also put out a public call for aid, urging people to donate non-perishable food, bottled water, clothes and blankets.

"We understand the frustration and anxiety of our residents," it said in a statement.

"We are working as quickly as we can. Our teams are hard at work to resume services. However, it may take a while to fully restore all services because of the extent of the damage to access roads". 

The country is still struggling to recover from the two-year-old COVID pandemic and deadly riots last year that killed more than 350 people.