Cape Town, South Africa - June 12, 2025 At least 49 people have been confirmed dead in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province following severe flooding caused by torrential rain and snowfall. Among the victims are several schoolchildren, as communities reel from one of the region’s worst weather disasters in recent memory. Provincial premier Oscar Mabuyane described the situation as dire, warning that the death toll could rise. “The numbers are just escalating hour after hour. The situation is so bad on the ground,” he said. In one tragic incident on Tuesday morning, a bus carrying schoolchildren was swept away while crossing a flooded bridge in the town of Mthatha. Authorities have recovered the bodies of four children, the driver, and a conductor from the submerged vehicle. Emergency services continue to search for missing persons as weather conditions remain dangerous. Residents are being urged to avoid flooded areas and to follow guidance from local authorities. The government has begun assessing the damage and coordinating relief efforts as the province braces for more rain in the coming days.