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35 killed as floods swamp parts of Africa

JOHANNESBURG: At least 35 people have died in flooding from torrential rains that have swamped parts of southern Africa and cut major road links in the region, television and radio stations reported on Thursday.

The South African emergency services said water levels were rising in most rivers and advised people not to try to cross them.

"It is still raining in most areas and we have a problem with fresh drinking water," said Captain Ronel Otto.

She said an 80-year-old woman died on Thursday when her house collapsed on her in South Africa's Northern province.

Other officials said floods had cut off a road linking Botswana to Zimbabwe and South Africa and links between Mozambique, Swaziland and South Africa.

In Mozambique, government officials said four people died when a bus was swept away by floods and overturned. The main road link between Mozambique and South Africa was also cut, leaving traders and tourists stranded.

South African radio reported that 800 trucks were stranded on the Botswana side of the border by high waters.

South Africa, the regional economic powerhouse, is already providing aid to Mozambique, where floods have isolated cities and left more than 100,000 needing aid.

South African police said torrential rains across South Africa's Northern, Mpumalanga and Gauteng provinces left a trail of death, destruction and despair, as dams overflowed, and rivers broke their banks and swept away bridges and roads.

Local media said the death toll in the Northern and Mpumalanga provinces -- the worst affected -- had risen to 31, scores were missing and thousands were homeless.

The South African Weather Bureau forecast more rain and thunderstorms through to next week, threatening further flooding with most rivers already at their highest levels in 50 years.

The Star newspaper reported that damage to infrastructure in Mpumalanga amounted to around 250 million rand ($39.4 million).

Business at the country's famed Kruger National Park has been disrupted with the closure of several rest camps.

Scores of tourists were evacuated from the Park on Wednesday, disrupting one of South Africa's lucrative hard currency earners.-Reuters