Eastern Cape flood death toll rises to 100 as search efforts intensify

The dearth toll in the devastating floods that struck the Eastern Cape has resin to 100 with fewer than 10 people still missing as search and rescue operations across the province.

According to ENCA five bodies were recovered in Umthatha on Monday where the community remain in shock. On Sunday afternoon two additional bodies were discovered by residentsraising the death toll to 95 at the time.

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Last week it was revealed by MEC of cooperative governance and traditional affairs, Zolile Williams that 50 people were still missing from the tragedy of two weeks ago.
A devastating storm killed 92 people when their homes, bridges and cars were swept away last week in untold damages that have shocked even the international community and the nation.

But the disaster, though much focus is in Mthatha because of the higher number of those who perished, it affected the whole province and parts of the country.
Here is the breakdown in terms of the areas which were affected in the Eastern Cape according to a statement by the Eastern Cape COGTA.

Of the 92 confirmed recovered bodies,  per district: OR Tambo 68, Amathole 10, Alfred Nzo 5, Joe Gqabi 2, Sarah Baartman 2, and Chris Hani 5.
And 86 bodies were identified and collected by family members at the mortuary, while 6 bodies remain unidentified.

Out of the 92, there are 22 pupils, 42 men and 50 females.
Cogta said out of the 92, 61 were adults and 31 were children.
Speaking during a day of provincial mourning in King Sabata Dalindyebo TVET college on Thursday, MEC Williams said they were now intensifying their search and rescue missions.
“We are now going to use drones that can identify bodies while they are up there. We are going to deploy them now because as a government we want all the bodies to be found,” Williams said.
He used the occasion to lambast extortionists who allegedly blocked Gift of Givers from issuing water to displaced families.

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