South Africa hit by snow, floods and gale force winds causing havoc

A minibus carrying schoolchildren was swept away by strong floods in South Africa, a spokesman for the provincial government of Cape Oriental told the BBC.

Khuselwa Rantjie said he was not clear how many children were on the bus, but that three had so far been found alive. The rescue efforts had been suspended because the night had fallen and would resume on Wednesday, she added.

In a separate incident, the bodies of seven people swept through the floods were found in the province or the tambo district.

South Africa was touched by strong snow, rains and winds of gust of gale that cost the lives of five other people in a road accident and left nearly 500,000 houses without electricity.

CAP oriental – The birthplace of the Anti -Apartheid Nelson Mandela icon – was the least affected by icy conditions, as well as the province of Kwazulu -Natal.

Bad weather has forced the closing of certain major roads in the two provinces to avoid other losses.

“This is a devastating reminder of the strength of nature. We urge everyone to show additional caution in the areas subject to floods,” said Prime Minister of Cap Oriental Oscar Mabuyane in a statement.

Five people died when a minibus taxi overturned near the coastal city in eastern London, the driver saying that he had lost control when he was trying to avoid a fallen tree, the spokesperson for the CAP transport department told the BBC at the BBC.

Two people were injured in the accident, he added.

The ESKOM Public State Service said nearly 300,000 houses had been affected by electricity cuts in 14 cities and villages in eastern CAP.

196,000 additional houses in 24 Kwazulu-Natal regions also experienced power cuts, Eskom spokesperson Daphne Mokwena said at the BBC.

Kwazulu-Natal Minister of Transport, Siboniso Duma, said that heavy snow had driven trucks on roads, causing enormous congestion.

The leveling machines were parked on the most affected roads to clear the snow before reaching more than 30 cm (12 inches) in depth.

The meteorologist Lehlohonolo Thobela also warned of strong winds and heavy waves at sea, which makes navigation for ships difficult.

Cap Oriental and Kwazulu-Natal are both along the coast.

South Africa regularly receives snowfall during its winter months, from June to August, with temperatures below 0C (32F).

There are also regular floods and scientists say that climate change causes stronger precipitation in the region.

Sudden floods and overflowing rivers between April 30 and May 2 caused significant damage to around 4,500 houses and left 18 people injured.