South Africa on Sunday declared a national disaster over torrential rains and floods that have killed at least 30 people in the northern part of the country, damaged thousands of homes and washed away roads and bridges. The declaration was made by the head of the National Disaster Management Center and announced by the government. A woman stands outside a flooded house in Nkomazi, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa, on Friday (Alfonso Nqunjana/AP)But the ministry of Co-operative governance and traditional affairs said at least three other provinces had also been affected by the severe weather. Parts of South Africa and neighbouring Mozambique and Zimbabwe have had heavy rain for weeks which resulted in severe flooding in central and southern Mozambique and northern South Africa. The floods in northern South Africa caused the closure of the Kruger National Park and the evacuation of hundreds of tourists and staff members from flooded camps to other parts of the park.

Source: Irish Examiner January 18, 2026 16:36 UTC