At least seven dead as severe winter storm ravages South Africa’s Eastern Cape VIDEO

A devastating winter storm has claimed the lives of at least seven people in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province, with fears that the death toll may rise as rescue efforts continue amid widespread flooding and hazardous conditions.

Since the weekend, the country has been battered by a powerful cold front, bringing plummeting temperatures, snow, and relentless flooding to several provinces, Caliber.Az reports, citing African media.

The Eastern Cape has borne the brunt of the storm, with the South African Weather Service (SAWS) issuing warnings of an elevated flood risk, prompting road closures and perilous travel conditions across the region.

South Africa's Eastern Cape is blanketed by heavy snow. A severe cold front has led to road closures, power outages and a fatal road accident https://t.co/jL1xfRo57G pic.twitter.com/gzDtVZx1bi

— Reuters (@Reuters) June 11, 2025

Disaster management teams and emergency services have been mobilised to respond to the crisis, focusing their efforts on the most severely affected communities. Among the most urgent incidents is the ongoing search for a minibus taxi carrying schoolchildren, which was swept away by floodwaters on June 10 morning. While three children have been rescued alive, the exact number of passengers remains unknown, and rescue operations were halted at nightfall due to safety concerns.

The storm’s impact has extended beyond human casualties, with nearly 500,000 homes plunged into darkness following widespread power outages. Infrastructure damage and disrupted services continue to exacerbate the challenges faced by affected populations.

While snowfall is not uncommon in certain high-altitude areas of South Africa during winter, meteorologists had issued advance warnings last week about the arrival of an unusually severe cold front. This storm has since proven exceptionally destructive, bringing record-low temperatures alongside torrential rains and floods.

By Vafa Guliyeva