South Africa has declared a national state of disaster after weeks of relentless rains triggered deadly floods across the country’s north, killing at least 30 people, destroying homes and infrastructure, and forcing thousands from their communities.

The announcement, made by the head of the National Disaster Management Center and confirmed by the government, unlocks additional powers and funding for a coordinated national response. It allows authorities to mobilize emergency resources across provincial lines, fast-track relief efforts, and begin the long and costly process of rebuilding roads, bridges, and public facilities swept away by the floods.

The heaviest toll has been recorded in the northern provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga, where swollen rivers burst their banks, informal settlements were inundated, and entire sections of road network collapsed under the force of the water. Officials say the death toll is expected to rise as search and rescue teams continue to comb through debris and riverbanks for the missing.

At least three other provinces have also been affected by the severe weather, according to the Ministry of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, underscoring the wide geographic spread of the storm systems that have hovered over southern Africa for weeks.

The floods are part of a broader regional crisis. Parts of neighboring Mozambique and Zimbabwe have also been lashed by heavy rains, leading to extensive flooding in central and southern Mozambique and northern South Africa. Regional authorities and humanitarian agencies estimate that more than 100 people have died across the three countries since the rains began late last year, with tens of thousands displaced and critical infrastructure damaged or destroyed.

In South Africa, the human cost is being felt most acutely in rural and peri-urban communities along river systems, where homes are often built on floodplains and drainage infrastructure is limited or poorly maintained. In Limpopo, provincial authorities say the weather has caused an estimated 240 million dollars in damage, with many houses and public buildings washed away entirely. Roads have been severed, leaving some villages accessible only by air or via makeshift crossings.

Among the most harrowing stories is that of five-year-old Siyanda Baloyi, who is believed to have been swept away when floodwaters surged through his family’s home in Limpopo. Rescue teams have continued to search for Siyanda and three other missing people in the province, navigating treacherous conditions and unstable riverbanks. For many families, the wait for news has become a painful vigil.

The floods have also claimed victims beyond South Africa’s borders. Authorities say a government official from Ekurhuleni municipality, east of Johannesburg, is missing after the vehicle he was traveling in was swept away by floodwaters in Mozambique. The official, identified as Andile Mngwevu, and other occupants of the vehicle have not been found, highlighting the cross-border nature of the disaster and the vulnerability of travelers and workers moving through the region.

One of South Africa’s most iconic tourist destinations, the Kruger National Park, has been both a symbol of the devastation and a focal point of the emergency response. The park, one of the largest game reserves in the world and a cornerstone of the country’s tourism industry, was forced to close after heavy downpours inundated roads, camps, and river crossings. More than 300 tourists and staff members had to be evacuated from flooded camps and relocated to safer parts of the park.

Images from Kruger showed collapsed bridges, washed-out gravel roads, and rivers transformed into raging torrents. Rangers and emergency teams worked around the clock to move visitors to higher ground, monitor wildlife movements, and assess damage to critical infrastructure. While the park has begun a phased reopening, officials warn that some areas will remain inaccessible for weeks or months as repairs are carried out.

The flooding in Kruger reflects the broader impact on Mpumalanga and Limpopo, where rivers such as the Limpopo and Olifants have overflowed, inundating farmland and threatening food security. Farmers have reported the loss of crops, livestock, and irrigation systems, compounding economic pressures in regions already grappling with high unemployment and limited services.

South Africa’s declaration of a national disaster is not only a response to the immediate emergency but also a recognition of a pattern of increasingly destructive weather events. In recent years, the country has suffered a series of deadly floods. More than 100 people died in flooding in the Eastern Cape last year, while catastrophic floods in the eastern province of KwaZulu-Natal in 2022 killed more than 400 people and caused billions of dollars in damage.

Climate scientists and disaster risk experts have repeatedly warned that South Africa is highly vulnerable to climate-related extremes, including both droughts and intense rainfall. Rapid urbanization, inadequate drainage systems, and the expansion of informal settlements into high-risk areas have amplified the impact of storms that might once have been manageable.

In the wake of the latest floods, civil society groups and local leaders are calling for a shift from reactive disaster relief to proactive risk reduction. That includes better land-use planning to prevent construction in flood-prone zones, investment in resilient infrastructure, early warning systems that reach remote communities, and maintenance of stormwater and river management systems.

For now, the focus remains on saving lives and stabilizing affected communities. Emergency shelters have been set up in schools, churches, and community halls for those who have lost their homes. Humanitarian organizations are distributing food parcels, blankets, and hygiene kits, while health authorities monitor for outbreaks of waterborne diseases that often follow major floods.

Engineers are assessing the structural integrity of bridges and roads, prioritizing key transport routes to restore access for ambulances, supply trucks, and repair crews. In some areas, temporary Bailey bridges and pontoon crossings are being considered to reconnect isolated communities.

The national disaster declaration is expected to accelerate the release of funds for these efforts, but the scale of the damage means recovery will be long and uneven. Poorer communities, which often lack insurance and savings, face the prospect of rebuilding from scratch with limited support.