By Enyichukwu Enemanna
At least eight bodies suspected to be those of school children, have been recovered after their bus was swept away by floods near Mthatha in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, officials said on Wednesday.
The children were on their way to school in the town of Mthatha when their bus was carried away in flood waters as it was crossing a bridge on Tuesday morning.
The eight bodies recovered include that of the bus driver, Eastern Cape community safety official Xolile Nqatha told reporters.
Other officials said three students were rescued on Tuesday, but it was not clear how many pupils were on the bus, which has since been found on a riverbank with no one inside.
State-owned broadcaster SABC, quoting President Cyril Ramaphosa’s office, reported that the three children who were rescued were found clinging to trees.
South Africa has been hit by heavy snow, rain and gale force winds that have officially claimed the lives of 14 people, nine from the floods and five in a road accident.
Nearly 500,000 homes were left without electricity on Tuesday – and state-owned power provider Eskom says efforts are being made to restore connections.
“President Ramaphosa offers his deep condolences to the bereaved families, affected communities and Eastern Cape residents at large,” his office said in a statement.
