Tragedy struck Ladysmith in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, as floods on Christmas Eve resulted in six fatalities and ten individuals still missing.

The KZN Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs confirmed that search and rescue teams, dedicatedly working on Christmas day, would resume their efforts on Tuesday to locate the missing individuals.

“For the moment, we have six confirmed deaths and still 10 people missing,” a provincial authority official stated on Tuesday, underscoring the ongoing challenges. Three victims were discovered in a minibus that was carrying nine passengers, while the fate of the other six individuals remains uncertain.

One casualty was found in a house destroyed by the floodwaters, and two more individuals inside the same residence are yet to be located. Additionally, two residents were found dead in vehicles swept away by the floods.

As KwaZulu-Natal braces for further heavy rainfall on Tuesday, authorities remain vigilant, emphasizing the urgent need for continued search and rescue operations in the affected areas. The community grapples with the aftermath of this devastating event, amplifying the challenges during the holiday season. (ILKHA)