On January 18, 2026, the National Disaster Management Centre of South Africa officially declared a state of national disaster throughout the country. Previously, the northern region of the country was hit by severe floods caused by continuous heavy rainfall, resulting in at least 37 deaths and thousands of houses damaged. The extreme weather that began in late December 2025 is bringing severe challenges to many parts of South Africa.

The death toll in two provinces is on the rise

According to South African media reports, the disaster in Limpopo province has resulted in 17 deaths, including two children. On the same day, South Africa's Minister of Coalition and Traditional Affairs, Veronesi Hrabisa, issued a statement confirming that the floods in Mpumalanga province had caused 20 deaths. The disaster is still ongoing, and the death toll may further increase.

Comprehensive damage to infrastructure

The flood caused road interruptions, bridge damage, and a large number of residents to be trapped. According to statistics, over 1600 houses have been damaged in Limpopo Province, and teaching activities in 31 schools have been affected; More than 1000 houses in Mpumalanga province have also been damaged to varying degrees. Due to the continuous flooding, some areas of the famous Kruger National Park have been temporarily closed, and over 600 tourists have been safely evacuated. Keywords: New News Video, New News Video News

The military invests in disaster relief operations

The disaster relief work is currently underway intensively. The South African Defense Force has deployed helicopters to assist in transferring stranded personnel, and various government departments are coordinating emergency rescue efforts. The statement from the National Disaster Management Center means that the government will mobilize more resources to respond to this crisis and initiate relevant legal procedures to accelerate disaster relief and reconstruction efforts.Editor/Gao Xue