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Flooding in South Africa’s northern provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga has forced the famed Kruger National Park to suspend visits and evacuate some guests and staff by helicopter. <\/p>\n
At least 19 people are now believed to have died in recent weeks in South Africa due to floods caused by torrential rain.<\/p>\n
Among those killed was a five-year-old boy in the town of Giyani, in Limpopo. President Cyril Ramaphosa met the child’s family to offer his condolences while visiting the region to assess the damage.<\/p>\n
A red level 10 warning has been issued by the South African Weather Service, forecasting yet more rain in affected areas and warning communities to remain alert. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
“If possible stay indoors and off the roads,” it advises. “Never drive on a road covered by water. If the vehicle stalls, leave it immediately and seek higher ground.” <\/p>\n
Residents are also advised to move their valuables to a “safe place above the expected flood level”, switch off their electricity at the source, and to move livestock to higher ground.<\/p>\n
In recent days helicopters and the military have been deployed to rescue people in some of the worst-affected areas.<\/p>\n
The Reuters news agency reports that flooding in south-eastern Africa has become more frequent and severe as climate change makes storms in the adjacent Indian Ocean more powerful.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n