A minibus carrying schoolchildren has been swept away by heavy flooding in South Africa, a spokesperson for the Eastern Cape provincial government has said.
Khuselwa Rantjie said it was unclear how many children were on the bus, but three had so far been found alive. Rescue efforts had been suspended as night had fallen, she added.
In a separate incident, the bodies of seven people carried away by flood water have been found in the province’s OR Tambo district.
South Africa has been hit by heavy snow, rains and gale force winds that have claimed the lives of a further five people in a road accident, and have left nearly 500,000 homes without electricity.
The Eastern Cape – the birthplace of anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela – has been worst-affected by the icy conditions, along with KwaZulu-Natal province.
The bad weather has forced the closure of some major roads in the two provinces to avoid further casualties.
“This is a devastating reminder of nature’s force. We urge everyone to exercise extra caution in areas prone to flooding,” Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane said in a statement.
Five people died when a minibus taxi overturned near the coastal city of East London, with the driver saying he had lost control as he was trying to avoid a fallen tree, Eastern Cape transport department spokesperson, Unathi Binqose, told the BBC.
Two people were injured in the accident, he added.
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