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Floods in OR Tambo kill one person and close Mqanduli

Published

Mayor Mesuli Ngqondwana said a person drowned in a river near Lusikisiki on Tuesday, and two children were hurt when a structure collapsed. Heavy rain also damaged roads and electricity infrastructure in the Eastern Cape district.

Ngqondwana said the drowning happened in Ngobozana village near Lusikisiki. He also said the municipality was still verifying the details of the death. He said roads were severely affected in various areas.

Access to Mqanduli town was closed on Tuesday, and access to some communities was affected. Flooding also hit some roads. Other areas named in the municipality's response include Port St Johns, Qumbu and Tsolo.

The OR Tambo District Municipality sent disaster management teams to assess the damage and the needs of communities. It said a fuller update would follow. The municipality urged people to avoid crossing flooded rivers and low-lying bridges.

Key facts

Who
Mesuli Ngqondwana (Executive Mayor, OR Tambo District Municipality); OR Tambo District Municipality (municipality affected by flash floods)
What
Heavy rain and adverse weather have damaged electricity infrastructure and flooded some roads in OR Tambo District Municipality, prompting the dispatch of disaster teams. Access to Mqanduli town has been closed, and access to some communities has been affected.
When
27 October 2026
Where
OR Tambo District Municipality, Eastern Cape, Mqanduli
Status
Reported

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