British News Agency

According to CCTV, South Africa’s National Disaster Management Centre declared a national disaster due to flooding caused by ongoing heavy rains.

The rainfall, which has been affecting the country since late December, has caused severe damage, particularly in the Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces. Authorities reported that at least 17 people have died in Limpopo and 20 in Mpumalanga as a result of the floods.

In Limpopo, more than 1,600 homes and 31 schools were damaged, while in Mpumalanga more than a thousand houses suffered varying degrees of damage. Kruger National Park, one of Africa’s largest nature reserves, was also partially closed due to flooding. More than 600 visitors stranded in the park were evacuated to safe areas.

The South African National Defence Force deployed two helicopters to support rescue operations.