South Africa floods kills 45 people

Torrential downpours and flash flooding have triggered mudslides, leaving 45 dead, with many citizens still unaccounted for.

The KwaZulu-Natal province has been decimated by the floods, with homes destroyed and many roads washed away. This has hindered the rescue effort, with many locals left stranded on their roofs, awaiting help and families frantically searching for loved ones amongst the debris. The coastal trading community has also been affected, with containers moved by the floods and blocking key motorways.

Whilst the rain has now subsided, there are concerns over future downpours, putting more areas at risk. The World Weather Attribution group's study on historical rainfall events suggest that more extreme rainfall is more common now and this is likely to be linked to global warming. The country was hit by three cyclones and two tropical storms in a 6 week period, demonstrating the increasing frequency and intensity of storm events.

Downpours are expected for the remainder of the week so the situation is likely to get worse. For more on this story, read the BBC article.