South Africa has declared a national disaster following catastrophic flooding that has killed more than 200 people across Southern Africa this month. Torrential rains since early January 2026 have displaced thousands, destroyed critical infrastructure, and triggered cross-border humanitarian emergencies.
In South Africa's Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces, floodwaters claimed 37 lives and damaged over 2,600 homes. The iconic Kruger National Park partially closed after submerged roads stranded 600 visitors, requiring military helicopter rescues. Cooperative Governance Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa confirmed 31 schools were destroyed, disrupting education for thousands of children.
Neighboring Mozambique faces escalating crises, with 103 fatalities and 200,000 displaced residents. Survivors in Chokwe district clung to rooftops for days before South African rescue teams arrived. Zimbabwe reported 70 deaths and 1,000 destroyed homes, while Malawi and Zambia grapple with submerged farmlands threatening food security.
Meteorologists attribute the disaster to a stalled low-pressure system, with The Weather Channel warning of additional heavy rainfall through late January. Regional governments have activated joint response plans, though aid groups warn damaged roads are hampering relief distribution.
